Water supply scenarios of agricultural areas: Environmental performance through Territorial Life Cycle Assessment

This paper aims to assess the conditions under which hydraulic projects can be considered as an efficient option, from environmental point of view, secure water supply agricultural areas using Territorial Life Cycle Assessment (T-LCA) methodology. Firstly, performance three theoretical land-use planning scenarios are defined: (1) a business-as-usual case without irrigation, (2) irrigation with Inter-Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) and (3) Agricultural Reservoir (AR). These all assessed by computing territorial eco-efficiency (i.e. ratio between services provided land their related impacts). Secondly, methodology was used water-energy-infrastructure nexus two projects. Results indicate that eco-efficiencies vary according service type use. For management or economic functions, scenario perform better, while more eco-efficient for functions biomass production. The analysis highlights trade-offs types project. On one hand, IBWT allows use low-stress resource less energy, but may require high material consumption. other AR uses relying on scarce resource. performs better than if pipe length is 100 km, allocation 1% (proportion infrastructure allocated agriculture area). study underlines importance considering context in assessment order support decision-making.