Life cycle assessment modelling for a developing city‘s water system

Abstract

The research objective to analysis the urban water system (UWS) includes water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for Raipur city of Chhattisgarh state in India. The city has a dry tropical climate and a warm summer. Developing city is being under pressure due to rapid population expansion, urbanization and industrialization that causes a considerable change in water resources and their services Using SIMA-PRO LCA technology with ReCiPe and IPCC methods, the environmental impact assessment for the urban water system in Raipur was calculate by conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA tool focuses on water treatment and supply, wastewater, storm water, energy consumption, emission of pollutants and heavy elements to the water bodies and to sewage sludge and others spatial considerations such as population, economic and social assessment, water quality along with stakeholder engagement. LCA is a useful tool for identifying alternative environmental impact solutions and urban water operation scenarios for future strategic planning. In assessment, we found that water losses in distribution network and electricity consumption in water treatment have highest impact on environment while reducing this two by 15% and 2% then it reduces impact about 16%. We studied the existing conditions and different scenarios in this research to enhance the system’s environmental quality and to find solutions to improve sustainability.