An Environmental Analysis of the Effect of Energy Saving, Production and Recovery Measures on Water Supply Systems under Scarcity Conditions

Valeria Puleo, Mariacrocetta Sambito and Gabriele Freni
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Valeria Puleo: Department of Civil, Environmental, Aeronautic and Chemical Engineering University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, Ed. 8, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Mariacrocetta Sambito: Sering Engineering, Via E. Amari, 90132 Palermo, Italy
Gabriele Freni: School of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna "Kore", Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Water is one of the primary resources provided for maintaining quality of life and social status in urban areas. As potable water is considered to be a primary need, water service has usually been managed without examining the economic and environmental sustainability of supply processes. Currently, due to increases in energy costs and the growth of environment preservation policies, reducing water leakage, energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) production have become primary objectives in reducing the environmental footprint of water service. The present paper suggests the implementation of some performance indicators that show the interdependence of water loss, energy consumption and GHG emission. These indicators are used to compare a few possible mitigation scenarios involving water loss reduction and increasing the system’s energy efficiency. The proposed indicators were applied to a complex urban water supply system serving the city of Palermo (Italy).

Keywords: water supply; energy; leakage; GHG; performance indicators (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: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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