Water Reuse: Contribution of a Decision Support Model

Edilson Holanda Costa Filho (), Ronaldo Stefanutti, Ulisses Costa de Oliveira and José Saldanha Matos
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Edilson Holanda Costa Filho: Technical Superior Institute, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Ronaldo Stefanutti: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza 60355-636, Brazil
Ulisses Costa de Oliveira: Environmental Agency of Ceara, Fortaleza 60050-155, Brazil
José Saldanha Matos: Technical Superior Institute, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-22

Abstract: Sustainability seeks to strike a balance between preserving the environment and meeting human needs without compromising future generations. In this context, and considering the effects of climate change on water availability, water reuse is emerging as an alternative to conventional water sources for various purposes, contributing to sustainability. Water reuse projects are, in general, not simple to implement due to different technical, environmental, social and economic aspects. In this paper, a support decision model for water reuse projects is presented, identifying relevant indicators and parameters. Based on a literature review, four indicators or dimensions (technical, social, environmental and economic) and twelve parameters (e.g., WWTP safety, transport complexity, existence of legislation, risk to health and environment, energy consumption, degree of acceptance and required investment and operation and maintenance costs) are proposed. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method is used as a component of the model to determine the weights of the indicators and parameters in order to allow the calculation of a reuse feasibility index (RFI). The developed model was applied to the city of Aquiraz, Ceará, Brazil, and the RFI found was 82%, which means that the water reuse project had very high viability. The results underwent a sensitivity analysis, which confirms the consistency of the conclusions.

Keywords: fuzzy AHP; indicators; parameters; sustainability; water reuse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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