Life-cycle assessment of a sewage-treatment plant in South-East Asia

This paper analyses the environmental impacts of a large-scale sewage-treatment plant and identifies opportunities for environmental performance improvements over the three life-cycle phases of construction, operation and demolition. Results show that nearly 70% of energy consumption occurred during the operation phase, which was lower than the normal energy consumption level of the conventional activated-sludge process. The results of the life-cycle assessment mag have implications in material selection, energy management, process design, supplier and contractor management, and environmental policy making.