Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes Regarding Energy Production from the Sludge Line

Paulina Szulc, Jędrzej Kasprzak, Zbysław Dymaczewski and Przemysław Kurczewski
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Paulina Szulc: Aquanet S.A., 61-491 Poznań, Poland
Jędrzej Kasprzak: Institute of Transport, Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
Zbysław Dymaczewski: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
Przemysław Kurczewski: Institute of Transport, Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-29

Abstract: The efficient and timely removal of organic matter and nutrients from water used in normal municipal functions is considered to be the main task of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Therefore, these facilities are considered to be essential units that are required to avoid pollution of the water environment and decrease the possibility of triggering eutrophication. Even though these benefits are undeniable, they remain at odds with the high energy demand of wastewater treatment and sludge processes. As a consequence, WWTPs have various environmental impacts, which can be estimated and categorized using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis. In this study, a municipal WWTP based in Poznań, Poland, was examined using the method defined in ISO 14040. ReCiPe Endpoint and Midpoint (v1.11), in a hierarchical approach, were used to evaluate the environmental impacts regarding 18 different categories. All calculations were conducted using a detailed database from 2019, which describes each chosen facility. It was found that the energy component, related to the wastewater treatment process demand and electricity production, is the main determinant of the sum of the environmental impact indicators in light of the modelled energy mix. Therefore, it determines the entire process as an environmentally friendly activity.

Keywords: wastewater; municipal wastewater treatment plant; environmental footprint; life cycle assessment; environmental effectiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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