Comparative life cycle environmental and economic assessment of anaerobic membrane bioreactor and disinfection for reclaimed water reuse in agricultural irrigation: A case study in Italy

Reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes is a measure to reduce water stress and overexploitation freshwater resources. This study aims investigate the environmental economic impacts current conventional treatment plant (WWTP) in Peschiera Borromeo (Milan, Italy), compare possible scenarios enable reclaimed reuse agriculture. Accordingly, we propose alternative disinfection methods (i.e. enhanced UV, peracetic acid) replace activated sludge (CAS) with upflow anaerobic blanket (UASB) biological use membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) as tertiary treatment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) life costing (LCC) were implemented on existing full-scale line hypothetical scenarios. In most cases, impact categories are primarily influenced by fertilizer application direct emissions nutrients heavy metals). The baseline scenario appears have largest impact, except eutrophication, human ecotoxicity terrestrial ecotoxicity. As expected, depletion apparent category between proposed UASB + AnMBR gives relatively higher benefits than other climate change (?28%), fossil fuel (?31%), mineral resource (?52%), compared baseline. On hand, highest eutrophication also obtained this since effluent from processes rich nutrients. Moreover, investment operational costs vary remarkably scenarios, overall mostly due replacement modules (24% total cost). results highlighted importance approach support decision making when considering upgrading WWTPs reuse.