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Water pollution in wastewater treatment plants: An efficiency analysis with undesirable output

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  • D’Inverno, Giovanna
  • Carosi, Laura
  • Romano, Giulia
  • Guerrini, Andrea

Abstract

The environmental efficiency of 96 Tuscan (Italian) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is investigated taking into account the quality of the outgoing water in terms of pollutant. In this regard, the presence of the residual nitrogen in the outgoing treated water is considered as undesirable output. The efficiency analysis is performed by applying a novel integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process/Non-radial Directional Distance Function (AHP/NDDF) approach, combining the benefits of the two techniques. Similarly to the standard NDDF approach, the suggested model allows to include simultaneously inputs, desirable and undesirable outputs and not to overestimate the efficiency scores. At the same time, the AHP inclusion gives the possibility to directly take into account the decision maker preferences in the weighting system and to encompass some existing directional distance function models as special cases.

Suggested Citation

  • D’Inverno, Giovanna & Carosi, Laura & Romano, Giulia & Guerrini, Andrea, 2018. "Water pollution in wastewater treatment plants: An efficiency analysis with undesirable output," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(1), pages 24-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:269:y:2018:i:1:p:24-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2017.08.028
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    5. Ronggang Zhang & Ching-Cheng Lu & Jen-Hui Lee & Ying Feng & Yung-Ho Chiu, 2019. "Dynamic Environmental Efficiency Assessment of Industrial Water Pollution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Zhenjie Gong & Yanhu He & Xiaohong Chen, 2022. "Evaluation of Regional Water Use Efficiency under Green and Sustainable Development Using an Improved Super Slack-Based Measure Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    7. Paulami De & Mrinmoy Majumder, 2020. "Allocation of energy in surface water treatment plants for maximum energy conservation," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3347-3370, April.
    8. Henriques, Alda A. & Camanho, Ana S. & Amorim, Pedro & Silva, Jaime G., 2020. "Performance benchmarking using composite indicators to support regulation of the Portuguese wastewater sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    9. Xiao-Ning Li & Ying Feng & Pei-Ying Wu & Yung-Ho Chiu, 2021. "An Analysis of Environmental Efficiency and Environmental Pollution Treatment Efficiency in China’s Industrial Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, February.
    10. Alda A. Henriques & Milton Fontes & Ana S. Camanho & Giovanna D’Inverno & Pedro Amorim & Jaime Gabriel Silva, 2022. "Performance evaluation of problematic samples: a robust nonparametric approach for wastewater treatment plants," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(1), pages 193-220, August.

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