Triple‐bottom‐line approach for comparing point‐of‐use/point‐of‐entry to centralized water treatment. Issue 2 (3rd March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lane, Kaycie; Reckhow, David; Tobiason, John; Kumpel, Emily
• Is Part Of: AWWA water science. Volume 5:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-03-03
• Subjects: exposure assessment -- life cycle assessment -- life cycle costing -- point‐of‐entry -- point‐of‐use -- triple bottom line approach; Water -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Water -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Water -- Purification -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering; Water -- Social aspects; Water -- Analysis; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 628.162
• DOI: 10.1002/aws2.1320
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2577-8161

Abstract

Abstract: Small drinking water systems in the United States often suffer from repeated Safe Drinking Water Act water quality violations that necessitate upgrades to the existing centralized systems to achieve compliance. Community water systems (CWSs) need to evaluate the tradeoffs between public health, environmental and economic impacts when choosing these system improvements. This study developed the input and output components of a triple‐bottom‐line methodology to compare two alternatives: (1) installing a centralized treatment upgrade or (2) a point‐of‐use/point‐of‐entry device over a 30‐year period, using a health exposure assessment specific contaminants, life cycle analysis of environmental impacts improvement, and life cycle costing to account for the useful life of components and the number of households served by a CWS. We present recommendations and considerations for future usage of the triple‐bottom‐line approach methodology.