Citation:

Morelli, B., S. Cashman, Xin Ma, J. Garland, D. Bless, AND M. Jahne. Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Mixed Wastewater and Graywater Distributed Treatment for Non-Potable Reuse in San Francisco - Chicago, IL. In Proceedings, WEFTEC, Chicago, IL, September 21 - 25, 2019. WEF, Alexandria, VA, 3398-3428, (2019).

Impact/Purpose:

To explore the environmental impacts and life cycle cost of decentralized wastewater treatment coupled with on-site, non-potable reuse (NPR) as a strategy for alleviating water scarcity. The stakeholders that would be interested in this study and apply the results including local communities; utilities, OW; OWM; Regions; LCA practitioners, decision makers, academia; experts.

Description:

This research uses life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) to evaluate three wastewater treatment technologies for decentralized, building scale treatment of mixed wastewater and graywater for non-potable reuse (NPR). The study develops life cycle inventory data for aerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBR), anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR), and recirculating vertical flow wetlands (RVFW), and compares environmental impacts and costs based on wastewater generation and treatment. The study compares results across three reuse scenarios, that vary the quantity of treated wastewater and graywater that can be used on-site for NPR, thereby displacing potable water production. Study results show that there are environmental benefits to matching the supply of treated wastewater or graywater to water demand for NPR. The AeMBR treatment process demonstrates the lowest environmental impacts and life cycle costs among the three treatment systems.

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