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Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Household Water Supply: A Case Study Considering Consumption Patterns within a Life-Cycle Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Valentina Zúñiga

    (School of Natural Resources Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bío-Bío, P.O. Box 447, Chillán 3800708, Chile)

  • Sofía Leiva

    (School of Natural Resources Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bío-Bío, P.O. Box 447, Chillán 3800708, Chile)

  • Cristian Riquelme

    (Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bío-Bío, P.O. Box 447, Chillán 3800708, Chile)

  • Gloria Gómez

    (Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group, Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160 – C, Concepción 4030000, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID/FONDAP/15130015, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción 4030000, Chile)

  • Gladys Vidal

    (Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group, Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160 – C, Concepción 4030000, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID/FONDAP/15130015, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción 4030000, Chile)

  • Patricio Neumann

    (Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bío-Bío, P.O. Box 447, Chillán 3800708, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID/FONDAP/15130015, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción 4030000, Chile)

Abstract

Household water supply can cause different environmental impacts associated with the consumption of energy and materials, the generation of waste, and other inputs and outputs necessary to treat and distribute water. These impacts depend on the population’s consumption patterns, due to the potential availability of different water sources. In this work, the environmental impacts of water supply were evaluated from a production-consumption perspective, integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) and a survey for determining the end uses and sources of water at household level. The proposed method was applied in the city of Chillán (Chile), where three main sources exist: tap, bottled, and well water. Two household profiles were evaluated, differentiated by the presence of wells within the household. The results show that bottled water generates impacts up to three orders of magnitude greater than the other sources. Although it is the source with the lowest volumetric contribution (<1%), it accounts for 39–92% of the household impacts. Households with well access present greater per capita consumption of water, mainly associated with outdoor activities, but the environmental impacts are similar between profiles. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of integrating a consumption perspective into LCA studies, generating better information for decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:1946-:d:1041598
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
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