Life cycle-based evaluation of environmental impacts and external costs of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation: A case study in southern Italy

摘要: Abstract Treated wastewater (TWW) reuse is a practice involving series of life cycle environmental and socio-economic benefits trade-offs. This raises fundamental question: Is this sustainable from the perspective? In first its kind study, using physical monetized assessment (LCA) we assessed impacts external costs TWW for irrigation in Trinitapoli, Southern Italy. The release secondary effluent sea water supply groundwater was modeled as baseline scenario. impact (LCIA)-model ReCiPe 2016 applied analysis. results at midpoint level revealed immanent trade-off between reduced consumption nutrient pollution additional energy infrastructure tertiary treatment. endpoint-based LCA evaluation shows that can bring to human health ecosystems, even though it connected higher damage resources. Finally, both economic weighting indicated delivers lower total cost marine eutrophication counterbalance reclamation detrimental impacts. A sensitivity analysis three methods (IMPACT World+, Environmental prices, footprint) provided essentially similar conclusions by portraying more advantageous option water-scarce region like Trinitapoli. Renewable-based mix efficiency drive net benefit higher. Overall delivered two main research thrusts: one detailed environmentally extended profile other integrating financial axis LCA-based allowing new sustainability-oriented perspective Mediterranean environment. model framework be expanded further include microbial chemical risk substituted products robust, comparative assessments.