Life cycle assessment drinking water supply and treatment systems

Abstract

Water scarcity and unavailability of clean drinking water are major concerns, which affect the global population. Water treatment and distribution system designs need to be reassessed and reevaluated in accordance with the geographic and region-specific conditions. All processes involved in the treatment and supply of water need to be sustainable, and this would require the inclusion of the environmental component in the decision-making approach. This implies that environmental profiles of every step involved needs to be pondered upon before establishing anything concrete. Life cycle assessment (LCA) thus serves as a systematic tool for the same and thereby enables the implementation of environmentally sound alternatives. This chapter gives an insight into the framework of LCA and discusses various LCA studies that have been conducted in the water sector. The primary focus has been to delineate the studies based on urban water systems and application of water treatment technologies and compare the same to identify key indicators and parameters, which can serve as potential mechanisms for technical improvement. The discussion has been focused on the modular drinking water systems. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.