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Assessing the Relative Sustainability of Point-of-Use Water Disinfection Technologies for Off-Grid Communities
Bright C Elijah1, Ali Ahmad2, Yalin Li2
1Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30458, United States.
ACS Environmental Au
|September 23, 2024
Summary
This study compares the cost and environmental impact of four point-of-use (POU) water disinfection technologies. Novel POU technologies offer potential benefits but require careful assessment for sustainable safe drinking water access.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Sustainable Development
Background:
- Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection is crucial for household-level safe drinking water access.
- Emerging POU technologies promise lower costs and higher capacity, but their sustainability claims need substantiation.
- A comparative assessment of novel versus conventional POU technologies is needed to understand their true cost and environmental footprints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare the sustainability of four POU water disinfection technologies: chlorination, ceramic water filters, UV mercury lamps, and UV LEDs.
- To evaluate the techno-economic and life cycle assessment (LCA) impacts, including per capita cost and global warming potential.
- To analyze the influence of water quality parameters, adoption times, and contextual factors on technology performance.
Main Methods:
- Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) were performed using Python packages (QSDsan, EXPOsan).
- Four POU technologies were evaluated: sodium hypochlorite chlorination, silver-nanoparticle ceramic filters, UV mercury lamps, and UV LEDs.
- Impacts were quantified per capita cost (USD·cap⁻¹·yr⁻¹) and global warming potential (kg CO₂ eq·cap⁻¹·yr⁻¹), considering water quality variations and performing sensitivity analyses.
Main Results:
- The study provides a quantitative comparison of the cost and environmental impacts of different POU technologies.
- Results highlight the influence of water quality, adoption timelines, and geographical context on technology sustainability.
- Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses identified key assumptions affecting the comparative outcomes.
Conclusions:
- This research offers valuable insights for decision-makers, NGOs, and researchers in selecting and developing sustainable POU water disinfection solutions.
- The findings aid in navigating the complexities of POU technology adoption for equitable access to safe drinking water globally.
- A data-driven approach is essential for substantiating claims of novel technologies and ensuring their environmental and economic viability.
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