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Eco-efficiency analysis of non-potable water systems in domestic buildings

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  • Lam, Chor-Man
  • Leng, Ling
  • Chen, Pi-Cheng
  • Lee, Po-Heng
  • Hsu, Shu-Chien

Abstract

Energy efficiency in water systems contributes significantly towards achieving sustainable water management. Decentralized anaerobic fluidized bed membrane bioreactor (AFMBR) systems with energy recovery have been proposed for greywater recycling in domestic buildings for non-potable uses, such as toilet flushing. This study developed an eco-efficiency analysis (EEA) framework with the integration of life-cycle assessment (LCA) and economic analysis for the evaluation of different water systems. Four water management scenarios including (1) freshwater flushing system, (2) seawater flushing system, (3) greywater flushing system adopting aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR), and (4) greywater flushing system adopting AFMBR, were analyzed in a case study in Hong Kong. The EEA results reveal the AFMBR greywater reuse scenario to be the most eco-efficient option as the system is capable of energy recovery, recycling of water resource and reduction of sewage treatment loadings. This study has demonstrated that the EEA framework is an effective tool to guide water management towards sustainability and provides a basis for further research on the application of greywater recycling systems on a larger scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Lam, Chor-Man & Leng, Ling & Chen, Pi-Cheng & Lee, Po-Heng & Hsu, Shu-Chien, 2017. "Eco-efficiency analysis of non-potable water systems in domestic buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 293-307.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:202:y:2017:i:c:p:293-307
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.095
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    2. Hugo Sakamoto & Flávia M. Ronquim & Marcelo Martins Seckler & Luiz Kulay, 2019. "Environmental Performance of Effluent Conditioning Systems for Reuse in Oil Refining Plants: A Case Study in Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Carla Rodrigues & João Almeida & Maria Inês Santos & Andreia Costa & Sandra Além & Emanuel Rufo & António Tadeu & Fausto Freire, 2021. "Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of an Innovative Multifunctional Toilet," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Nancy Diaz-Elsayed & Jiayi Hua & Nader Rezaei & Qiong Zhang, 2023. "A Decision Framework for Designing Sustainable Wastewater-Based Resource Recovery Schemes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    5. Muhanji, Steffi O. & Farid, Amro M., 2020. "An enterprise control methodology for the techno-economic assessment of the energy water nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    6. Krzysztof Rajski & Sebastian Englart & Ali Sohani, 2024. "Analysis of Greywater Recovery Systems in European Single-Family Buildings: Economic and Environmental Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.

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