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Assessing the Energetic and Environmental Impacts of the Operation and Maintenance of Spanish Sewer Networks from a Life-Cycle Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Petit-Boix
  • David Sanjuan-Delmás
  • Sergio Chenel
  • Desirée Marín
  • Carles Gasol
  • Ramon Farreny
  • Gara Villalba
  • María Suárez-Ojeda
  • Xavier Gabarrell
  • Alejandro Josa
  • Joan Rieradevall

Abstract

The environmental impacts resulting from sewer networks are best analysed from a life-cycle perspective to integrate the energy requirements into the infrastructure design. The energy requirements for pumping wastewater depend on the configuration of the city (e.g., climate, population, length of the sewer, topography, etc.). This study analyses and models the effect of such site-specific features on energy consumption and related effects in a sample of Spanish cities. The results show that the average annual energy used by sewers (6.4 kWh/capita and 0.014 kWh/m 3 of water flow) must not be underestimated because they may require up to 50 % of the electricity needs of a typical treatment plant in terms of consumption per capita. In terms of Global Warming Potential, pumping results in an average of 2.3 kg CO 2 eq./capita. A significant positive relationship was demonstrated between the kWh consumed and the length of the sewer and between other factors such as the population and wastewater production. In addition, Atlantic cities can consume 5 times as much energy as Mediterranean or Subtropical regions. A similar trend was shown in coastal cities. Finally, a simple predictive model of the electricity consumption was presented that considers the analysed parameters. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Petit-Boix & David Sanjuan-Delmás & Sergio Chenel & Desirée Marín & Carles Gasol & Ramon Farreny & Gara Villalba & María Suárez-Ojeda & Xavier Gabarrell & Alejandro Josa & Joan Rieradevall, 2015. "Assessing the Energetic and Environmental Impacts of the Operation and Maintenance of Spanish Sewer Networks from a Life-Cycle Perspective," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 29(8), pages 2581-2597, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:29:y:2015:i:8:p:2581-2597
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-015-0958-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Venkatesh, G. & Brattebø, Helge, 2011. "Energy consumption, costs and environmental impacts for urban water cycle services: Case study of Oslo (Norway)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 792-800.
    2. Raziyeh Farmani & David Butler, 2014. "Implications of Urban Form on Water Distribution Systems Performance," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(1), pages 83-97, January.
    3. Ali Haghighi & Amin Bakhshipour, 2012. "Optimization of Sewer Networks Using an Adaptive Genetic Algorithm," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(12), pages 3441-3456, September.
    4. Anna Petit-Boix & David Sanjuan-Delmás & Carles Gasol & Gara Villalba & María Suárez-Ojeda & Xavier Gabarrell & Alejandro Josa & Joan Rieradevall, 2014. "Environmental Assessment of Sewer Construction in Small to Medium Sized Cities Using Life Cycle Assessment," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(4), pages 979-997, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Haniye Safarpour & Massoud Tabesh & Seyyed Ahmadreza Shahangian, 2022. "Environmental Assessment of a Wastewater System under Water demand management policies," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(6), pages 2061-2077, April.
    2. Anna Petit‐Boix & Carla Arnal & Desirée Marín & Alejandro Josa & Xavier Gabarrell & Joan Rieradevall, 2018. "Addressing the Life Cycle of Sewers in Contrasting Cities through an Eco‐Efficiency Approach," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(5), pages 1092-1104, October.
    3. Anna Petit-Boix & Núria Roigé & Albert de la Fuente & Pablo Pujadas & Xavier Gabarrell & Joan Rieradevall & Alejandro Josa, 2016. "Integrated Structural Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Equivalent Trench-Pipe Systems for Sewerage," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(3), pages 1117-1130, February.

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    Keywords

    Energy; Sewer; LCA; Operation; City;
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