Abstract
Safe access to sanitation is at the core of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #6. Currently, it is estimated that this goal cannot be met by 2030. Despite all kinds of administrational hurdles, meeting SDG#6 depends on considerable investment. In order to get a chance at fulfilling SGD#6, the most cost-effective wastewater management has to be identified. Wastewater can be managed in different ways ranging from central treatment plants connected to individual households through sewer networks down to tanker fleets servicing each household. Depending on the geographical setting, investment costs, operation and maintenance as well as social acceptance there is no single best solution. Instead, identifying the optimal wastewater management is highly localized and country-specific or even settlement-specific. Within this study we present a data-reduced scenario generation and assessment for wastewater management based on the ALLOWS method that can be applied to individual settlements. Results provide cost-ranked wastewater management scenarios that enable decision makers to select the most cost-effective and feasible scenario. Our study starts with a detailed step-by-step methodology of a data-reduced ALLOWS approach. The approach is applied to two small settlements in Jordan and Oman with comparable population size for which a set of five scenarios along a decentralization gradient is defined and generated: centralized, semi-centralized, decentralized, and on-site/tanker. Considering spatial specificities and country-specific cost data, the five scenarios are cost-ranked and discussed in view of the two settlement settings. For Jordan specific treatment costs range from 3.8 to 6.9 USD/m3of treated water and for Oman from 2.3 to 10.1 USD/m3. Although the scenario ranking differs, for both settlements the decentralized scenario is identified as the most cost effective, where wastewater is treated on-site for less-populated parts and by small cluster treatment plants for higher density parts. Further, potential extensions providing users with more functionality depending upon data availability for the data-reduced ALLOWS method are discussed. Using globally available data, the data-reduced can be applied worldwide. In view of SDG#6, we present a methodology that closes the gap between country-scale investment estimates and the most cost-effective wastewater management scenarios at settlement level.
Highlights
The sustainable management of water and sanitation has been defined as one of the UN’s sustainable development goals UN (2015), Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6
This study presents a clear and concise step-by-step methodology for a data-reduced scenario generation and assessment of wastewater management scenarios based on the Assessment of Local Lowest Cost Wastewater Solutions (ALLOWS) method
We have applied the data-reduced ALLOWS method to two settlements in Jordan and Oman with comparable population size. For both settlements five wastewater management scenarios along a decentralization gradient have been developed: Centralized scenario (S1), Semi-centralized scenario (S2), Decentralized scenario (S3), On-site/tanker scenario (S4/5). Both settlements showed slightly different scenario rankings based on specific treatment costs, yet the decentralized scenario (S3) was the most cost-effective for both settings
Summary
The sustainable management of water and sanitation has been defined as one of the UN’s sustainable development goals UN (2015), SDG 6. As of 2019, SDG 6 UN (2018) might not be reached in 2030 despite the progress made, which means that more than half of the population still lacks safely managed sanitation (UN, 2019). In order to reach the SDG 6, considerable investment is needed in a short period of time. The connection of all households to sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants is costly and differs between rural and urban regions. With regard to wastewater management, investment decisions should be made according to local conditions and needs in order to identify the most costeffective sanitation solutions. The aim of this study is to develop and assess different wastewater management scenarios along a decentralization gradient and identify the most costeffective solution
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.