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Life Cycle Assessment of a wastewater treatment plant in an urban area using the environmental footprint method

Author

Listed:
  • Sanjuana Rodríguez Gomez

    (Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi)

  • Nahum Andres Medellín Castillo

    (Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi)

  • Israel Herrera Orozco

    (Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT))

  • Alfredo Ávila Galarza

    (Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi)

  • Sergio Arturo Castro Larragoitia

    (Industrial Minera México S.A. de C.V. (Electrolytic zinc refinery))

  • Miguel Mauricio Aguilera Flores

    (Interdisciplinary Professional Unit of Engineering, Campus Zacatecas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional)

  • Verónica Ávila Vázquez

    (Interdisciplinary Professional Unit of Engineering, Campus Zacatecas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional)

Abstract

This study evaluated the environmental impacts of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the city of San Luis Potosi (Mexico) using the environmental footprint method in the life cycle analysis (LCA). The functional unit established was 1 m3 of treated water, considering a WWTP lifetime of 25 years. LCA integrated a detailed inventory of the evaluated system, incorporating the materials and energy inputs used in the WWTP infrastructure, operation and maintenance, and heavy metal concentrations in sludge. Likewise, the entire wastewater treatment train was included. SimaPro 9.3 software was used to model the processes, and the Ecoinvent v3.0 database provided the background data, assessing sixteen impact categories. Results revealed that the infrastructure and the tertiary treatment contribute to the impact categories of land use and ozone depletion, respectively. However, the operation contributes with values higher than 90% for 15 indicators, of which ten were due to the use of electric energy and the energy production form in Mexico. Heavy metal concentrations in the sludge contribute to human health effects and freshwater toxicity categories. These impacts could be decreased (up to 80%) if the sludge was not placed in the soil to be sun-dried. Therefore, improvement opportunities are based on reducing the distance between the pretreatment area and the WWTP to decrease the electrical energy consumption demanded by the pumping, using an alternate energy source to supply the demand of the WWTP, and sludge management in a controlled landfill or biogas production and use it in the lighting of the WWTP.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanjuana Rodríguez Gomez & Nahum Andres Medellín Castillo & Israel Herrera Orozco & Alfredo Ávila Galarza & Sergio Arturo Castro Larragoitia & Miguel Mauricio Aguilera Flores & Verónica Ávila Vázquez, 2025. "Life Cycle Assessment of a wastewater treatment plant in an urban area using the environmental footprint method," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 9145-9163, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04273-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04273-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nithiya Arumugam & Shreeshivadasan Chelliapan & Hesam Kamyab & Sathiabama Thirugnana & Norazli Othman & Noor Shawal Nasri, 2018. "Treatment of Wastewater Using Seaweed: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Thibodeau, Charles & Monette, Frédéric & Glaus, Mathias, 2014. "Comparison of development scenarios of a black water source-separation sanitation system using life cycle assessment and environmental life cycle costing," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 38-54.
    3. Paulina Szulc & Jędrzej Kasprzak & Zbysław Dymaczewski & Przemysław Kurczewski, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes Regarding Energy Production from the Sludge Line," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-29, January.
    4. Dania M. Allami & Mohamed T. Sorour & Medhat Moustafa & Ahmed Elreedy & Mai Fayed, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment of a Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Simulated with Alternative Operational Designs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Haniye Safarpour & Massoud Tabesh & Seyyed Ahmadreza Shahangian, 2022. "Environmental Assessment of a Wastewater System under Water demand management policies," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(6), pages 2061-2077, April.
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