Sustainability Analysis of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant through Emergy Evaluation

Water and wastewater treatment plants are essential for the supply of drinking water consumption effluents produced by human/industrial activities. However, few studies deal with investments sustainability these services, which consider both contribution nature society. This study uses emergy approach to evaluate a plant located in northeastern part Romania, Iași city. An assessment environmental costs natural fluxes required processes was performed, considering that treated effluent is, still, loaded contaminants have be absorbed receiving system. The work done assimilate this load, generally considered free, is esteemed as further cost total budget processes. perspective approached calculating analyzing yield ratio (EYR), load rate (ELR), development index (ESI). use local renewable resources municipal negligible (1.71% budget), compared purchased (98.29% budget) mainly processed support fossil fuels’ generated energy. unit emegy value was, also, calculated other relevant plants. analysis suggests large amount contains proportional number employed extensive effects on surrounding ecosystems, where discharged.