The water footprint assessment for advanced biological wastewater treatment plant

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) 2024, Vol.21 (2), p.2035-2048
• Main Authors: Varol, S., Alver, A., Altaş, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Original Paper; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-023-05242-8

This study aimed to assess the contribution of the AB-WWTP to a sustainable environment by producing indicators through water footprint assessment. The AB-WWTP processes an average of 2,973,854 m 3 /month of domestic wastewater from 694,556 inhabitants and discharges it into the receiving environment with Class III water quality. This indicates that this wastewater treatment plant is contributing towards sustainability goals and providing clean water for its surrounding communities. Water footprint inputs and outputs of the WWTP were evaluated in terms of two different scenarios: (1) discharge of wastewater to the receiving water body without treatment, and (2) discharge of the treated wastewater to the receiving water body with the current performance of the WWTP. It was concluded that the WF Grey , WF Blue , and WF Green had an effect of 95.127%, 3.981%, and 0.892% on the WF WWTP , respectively. In the first scenario, when 1 unit of wastewater is discharged without treatment, it reduces or pollutes the quality of an average of 61.91 units of freshwater in the receiving environment. When wastewater is treated in an AB-WWTP, surface water quality is maintained by observing legal receiving environment standards. The operation of the AB-WWTP causes the consumption of a total of 20,457 m 3 /month of freshwater, 2701 m 3 /month directly, and 17,756 m 3 /month indirectly. As a striking result, pollution of approximately 9368 units of freshwater is prevented by using 1 unit of freshwater for the treatment plant’s operation. The WFA method is a good indicator to show the contribution of facilities to the natural water cycle.