A COMPARISON OF ENERGY USE AND CARBON GENERATED FROM THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PASSIVE ONSITE AND CENTRALIZED WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

摘要

With rapid population growth worldwide, green building and development is becoming increasingly important. The economic and environmental benefits provided through the operation and maintenance (O&M) of centralized WWTPs and passive onsite wastewater treatment systems were quantitatively examined through an analysis of the unit cost, embodied carbon, and embodied energy of wastewater treatment. For both centralized and onsite wastewater treatment systems, averages were calculated for the unit treatment cost, embodied carbon (kg CO2), and embodied energy (MJ) per kilogram of biochemical oxygen demand (kg BOD) and total suspended solids (kg TSS) removed, and liter treated. In comparison to centralized WWTPs, gravity and pump onsite wastewater treatment systems had a reduction in cost of treatment, embodied carbon footprint, and embodied energy footprint. With clear economic and environmental benefits, onsite wastewater treatment can be a sustainable method to efficiently and effectively manage increased domestic wastewater production.