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Life Cycle Assessment of Three Safe Drinking-Water Options in India: Boiled Water, Bottled Water, and Water Purified with a Domestic Reverse-Osmosis Device

Author

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  • Tirma Garcia-Suarez

    (Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK)

  • Michal Kulak

    (Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK)

  • Henry King

    (Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK)

  • Julia Chatterton

    (Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK)

  • Arunima Gupta

    (Mumbai Hindustan Unilever Research Centre (HURC), I C T Road Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 099, India)

  • Skand Saksena

    (Mumbai Hindustan Unilever Research Centre (HURC), I C T Road Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 099, India)

Abstract

Indian households connected to improved water sources still need to purify their water before drinking. In this study, environmental impacts of three purification options in urban India were compared: (a) boiling water, (b) bottled, purified water, and (c) purifying the water with a domestic reverse-osmosis (RO) device. Primary data for the manufacture, distribution, and the use of the RO device were obtained directly from the manufacturer. Standard, attributional Life Cycle Assessment was performed using a suite of impact assessment methods from ReCiPe v 1.8. In addition, blue and green water consumptions were quantified using the Quantis water database. Bottled water was found to be associated with the highest impacts for all impact categories considered, mainly due to the production and the transportation of bottles. The preference between the other two systems depends on the considered impact category. Water boiled using the liquefied petroleum gas (current practice of urban consumers in India) was found to have higher impacts on climate change and fossil resource use than water from a domestic RO device. The use of the device; however, was found to have higher impacts on water resources than boiling, both in terms of quality (freshwater eutrophication) and availability (water consumption).

Suggested Citation

  • Tirma Garcia-Suarez & Michal Kulak & Henry King & Julia Chatterton & Arunima Gupta & Skand Saksena, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of Three Safe Drinking-Water Options in India: Boiled Water, Bottled Water, and Water Purified with a Domestic Reverse-Osmosis Device," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:22:p:6233-:d:284382
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Troy R. Hawkins & Bhawna Singh & Guillaume Majeau‐Bettez & Anders Hammer Strømman, 2013. "Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Electric Vehicles," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(1), pages 53-64, February.
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    1. Geir Wæhler Gustavsen & Atle Wehn Hegnes, 2020. "Turning the Tap or Buying the Bottle? Consumers’ Personality, Understanding of Risk, Trust and Conspicuous Consumption of Drinking Water in Norway," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Valentina Zúñiga & Sofía Leiva & Cristian Riquelme & Gloria Gómez & Gladys Vidal & Patricio Neumann, 2023. "Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Household Water Supply: A Case Study Considering Consumption Patterns within a Life-Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, January.

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