Integrated Assessment Challenges in the Water, Wastewater and Waste Domains: Case Studies

Abstract

the integrated assessment represents an effective tool for the evaluation of complex environmental problems and situations as it integrates several aspects (technical, environmental, economic, social, health) and actors (e.g., decision makers, stakeholders). Different case studies are presented in this work concerning the application of integrated assessment tools for the selection of wastewater treatment technologies, for choosing the best options for sludge management, for the implementation of sustainable approaches for risk management in drinking water supply systems and for the selection of the most appropriate cooking technology in a low income setting. The results show, from one hand, the benefit of integrating different dimensions in solving environmental problems, and, from the other hand, the need for standardization.