Abstract
Freshwater is a unique resource essential to both human life and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Water resource management plays a critical role in sustainability. While life cycle assessment (LCA) has been applied to model direct water pollution impacts such as freshwater eutrophication, acidification or human and aquatic (eco)toxicity; potential impacts from water deprivation are at an earlier stage of modeling. In 2007, the Water Use in LCA (WULCA) Working Group was formed to bring together experts in academia, public, and private sectors in the fields of water resources and LCA as part of the United Nations Environment Programme and Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Life Cycle Initiative to address water use in LCA and to make methodological recommendations consistent with the principles, requirements, and guidelines of the ISO standard, 14046:2014 (Water Footprint: Principles, Requirements and Guidelines). This article outlines the framework recommended by the WULCA Working Group to quantify potential impacts of water use on human health and ecosystem quality, and from consumptive and degradative water use in LCA.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call