Global Water Consumption Research Articles

The Adoption and Impact of Climate-Smart Water Management Technologies in Smallholder Farming Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Agriculture plays a significant role in global water consumption, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater usage. This makes this sector a critical factor in the depletion of water resources. Accordingly, this paper explores potential mitigatory impacts of climate-smart water management (CSWM) technologies in sub-Saharan Africa. About 70% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is dependent on agriculture for sustaining their livelihoods. This is despite the low agricultural output in smallholder farming systems (SFS) due to water scarcity. This has spurred several attempts to promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) to raise agricultural outputs and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. However, there has not been a comprehensive analysis of data categorised by various aspects of climate-smart water management technologies. In this systematic literature review, climate-smart water management technologies in sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector were identified and analysed to determine strategies that could enhance their adoption and impact. To this end, academic articles reporting on the adoption of climate-smart water management technologies in databases were reviewed. Four significant literature databases were used. These were limited to Springer Link, ScienceDirect, MDPI, Wiley Online, and Google Scholar. The findings demonstrate that rainwater harvesting and micro-irrigation are the primary climate-smart water management technologies used by smallholder farmers. The literature review shows that adoption of CSWM practices is constrained by inadequate technological infrastructure, financial implications, unsuitable policies, and low user skills, particularly. It is therefore recommended that government agricultural departments and relevant advocates of CSA should incentivise and subsidise smallholder farmers to encourage CSWM technology adoption. This can be achieved through the implementation of suitable policies directed at technological infrastructure development, financial support for adoption, and technical skills training.

How water circularity can help to reduce and regulate water waste in urban districts

Abstract Global water consumption has increased sixfold in the past 100 years and is growing at about 1% per year due to population growth, economic development, and changing consumption patterns; therefore, climate change, combined with urbanization and population growth, is causing water availability problems in cities around the world. Rethinking circular cities that put water at the centre of their priorities and that manage it cyclically and keep it within the urban environment as much as possible to maximize its value must become the fundamental goal. However, to date, cities are not even close to maximizing the use of water that reaches their buildings. As a result, two main issues have emerged as crucial in the international debate: the scarcity of water resources due to its wastefulness and overuse, and extreme weather events, such as heavy rains alternating with periods of prolonged drought, a consequence of global warming. In response to these issues, this research aims to investigate the potential of a design approach that takes into account the two phenomena of water excess and shortage, integrating water from the earliest decision-making stages of building design. Starting from the definition of architectural strategies, replicable solutions are defined and evaluated against specific KPIs to develop a resilient and climate-neutral architectural and urban design model.

Plastic Versus Bioplastic as Packaging for Sanitary Products: The Environmental Impacts Comparison

ABSTRACTPlastic or bioplastic? Which is the least impactful flexible packaging solution for the environment? In literature, few works try to answer this question, and most of them are focused on food packaging applications, comparing only polylactic acid (PLA) with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other virgin plastics. Besides these lacks in the literature, this work aims at contributing to the scientific knowledge, helping in the meanwhile packaging companies to choose the best solution also for hygienic and sanitary applications as far as the environmental impact is concerned. The study is focused on the life cycle assessment of four solutions made of maize starch, PLA and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and a recycled LDPE (R‐LDPE). The functional unit was a flexible packaging containing 10 sanitary towels. Primary data were retrieved thanks to an Italian company, whereas secondary data were extracted from the Ecoinvent 3.7 database. The SimaPro 9.4 software has been used to calculate the global warming, water consumption, acidification and abiotic depletion of elements and fossil fuels of each packaging solution. The results show that the raw materials and packaging production are the most impactful phases during the life cycle of plastics and bioplastics packaging, if compared to the distribution phase, the auxiliary materials involved and the final disposal. Great benefits could be gained using recycled plastics, which allow to reduce the extraction of virgin materials and overall appear as the best solution from an environmental point of view to package also sanitary products.

Environmental impact assessment of direct lithium extraction from brine resources: Global warming potential, land use, water consumption, and charting sustainable scenarios

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) has emerged as an alternative that bypasses lengthy evaporation processes to produce lithium from brine sources. This study scrutinizes both direct and indirect environmental impacts of DLE, specifically focusing on global warming, land use, and water consumption in Clayton Valley, Nevada. It was compared to traditional brine and hard rock extraction methods. The DLE method is closely tied to energy usage, and this study has explored various scenarios for power sources. The TRACI, ReCiPe, and AWARE methods of life cycle assessment were employed to evaluate the environmental footprint, indirect land use, and water footprint of lithium production from various sources. According to the study, producing one ton of lithium carbonate using the DLE method showed distinct emissions profiles. Specifically, when electricity was sourced from a diesel generator, the Nevada grid, or solar panels, the emissions totaled approximately 22, 17.3, and 7.6 tons of CO2eq, respectively. Switching power sources goes beyond affecting greenhouse gas emissions; it also influences land use impacts and individual water consumption, as evaluated in this study. The direct land use for DLE is as follows: 16, 493, 182, and 659 m²/ton of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) for processing plant, processing plant, well field, processing plant, solar panel area, and all regions required with solar panels, respectively. In assessing the water footprint, the study determined varying water deprivation potentials depending on the electricity source utilized: 3.7 m³eq/kg of LCE with a diesel generator, 9.5 m³eq/kg of LCE with the Nevada grid, and 4.2 m³eq/kg of LCE with solar panels.

Water consumption and biodiversity: Responses to global emergency events

Given that it was a once-in-a-century emergency event, the confinement measures related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused diverse disruptions and changes in life and work patterns. These changes significantly affected water consumption both during and after the pandemic, with direct and indirect consequences on biodiversity. However, there has been a lack of holistic evaluation of these responses. Here, we propose a novel framework to study the impacts of this unique global emergency event by embedding an environmentally extended supply-constrained global multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) into the drivers-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework. This framework allowed us to develop scenarios related to COVID-19 confinement measures to quantify country-sector-specific changes in freshwater consumption and the associated changes in biodiversity for the period of 2020–2025. The results suggest progressively diminishing impacts due to the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines and the socio-economic system’s self-adjustment to the new normal. In 2020, the confinement measures were estimated to decrease global water consumption by about 5.7% on average across all scenarios when compared with the baseline level with no confinement measures. Further, such a decrease is estimated to lead to a reduction of around 5% in the related pressure on biodiversity. Given the interdependencies and interactions across global supply chains, even those countries and sectors that were not directly affected by the COVID-19 shocks experienced significant impacts: Our results indicate that the supply chain propagations contributed to 79% of the total estimated decrease in water consumption and 84% of the reduction in biodiversity loss on average. Our study demonstrates that the MRIO-enhanced DSPIR framework can help quantify resource pressures and the resultant environmental impacts across supply chains when facing a global emergency event. Further, we recommend the development of more locally based water conservation measures—to mitigate the effects of trade disruptions—and the explicit inclusion of water resources in post-pandemic recovery schemes. In addition, innovations that help conserve natural resources are essential for maintaining environmental gains in the post-pandemic world.

Application of Life Cycle Assessment to Analysis of Fibre Composite Manufacturing Technologies in Shipyards Industry

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to evaluate the environmental load of fibre composite manufacturing technologies in the shipyards industry in a frame of the Fibre4Yards (Horizon 2020) project. This paper is focused on the LCA of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) technologies used to produce all elements of the floating unit, i.e., the conventional vacuum infusion technology for the deck panel and adaptive mould process for superstructure panels, ultraviolet (UV) curved pultrusion process for the production of stiffeners, hot stamping technology for brackets, and three-dimensional (3D) printing and automatic tape placement (ATP) for pillars. Environmental impact was assessed based on standard indicators: Global Warming Potential, water consumption, and fossil resource scarcity. The results indicate that the total carbon footprint of analysed FRP technologies is mainly produced by the type of the materials applied rather than by the amount of energy consumed during the process.

Reevaluating the Land Use Impact of a Li-ion Battery Related Mining Project, A Case Study of Greenbushes Mine

The mining industry plays a pivotal role in the global transition towards clean energy, driven by the escalating demand for critical elements like lithium. However, this growth raises profound environmental concerns, particularly regarding land use, global warming potential, water consumption, acidification, eutrophication, and toxicity. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has historically relied on approximations and theoretical methods, resulting in systematic underestimations of these impacts. This study begins to address part of this discrepancy by leveraging remote sensing technologies to gather empirical evidence. Focusing on the Greenbushes mining site in Australia, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the direct land use impact from satellite imagery over the life of the project. Comparative analyses were performed against various mid-point Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods. The findings unequivocally reveal a substantial under-reporting of the land use impact, highlighting the critical need for more accurate assessments in the context of mining activities. This research underscores the importance of empirical data in refining our understanding of the environmental footprint associated with mining operations, particularly in the critical context of clean energy transition. The study emphasises the imperative to reevaluate and adjust existing approaches to accurately account for the full scope of environmental impacts associated with mining operations.

Broccoli Leaves (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds and Chemical Building Blocks: Optimal Extraction Using Dynamic Maceration and Life Cycle Assessment

Bioactive compounds (BACs) and chemical building blocks (CBBs) play a pivotal role in driving economic growth. These compounds, known for their diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and manufacturing, have become integral to meeting the increasing demand for sustainable and innovative products. In this research, we used and characterized dynamic maceration to extract BACs and CBBs from broccoli leaves (BLs). A central composite design (CCD) was selected to evaluate the effect of temperature (from 4 °C to 70 °C), ethanol concentration (from 30% to 70% (v/v)), and exposition time (15 to 60 min) on total phenolic content (TPC) (mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAEs) per 100 g of dry biomass (db)). A confirmation experiment (CE) was performed to reproduce the optimal conditions (50 °C, 36.92 min, and 30% (v/v)) for BAC extraction. Results indicated a GAE concentration of 112.95 ± 0.92 mg/100 g db, while the statistical model predicted a value of 111.87 mg of GAEs/100 g db (error of 0.95%) with a rate constant (k) value of 0.0154 mg/g·min (R2 of 0.9894). BACs and CBBs were identified with gas chromatography–electron impact mass spectrometry detecting l-isoleucine, l-leucine, malonic acid, and succinic acid, among others. Finally, a life cycle inventory (LCI) was developed to determine global warming (GW) and water consumption (WC), among others, for 10 g of BL extract. Findings reported herein prove the sustainability of eco-friendly extraction of BACs and CBBs for the effective use of agricultural by-products.

Life Cycle Assessment of Environmentally Friendly Solutions for the Construction of Unpaved Rural Roads

In recent decades, the international community has recognized the detrimental impact of the construction industry on the environment. In recent years, the use of recycled aggregates has attracted increasing interest as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the construction and maintenance of road pavements. The life cycle assessment (LCA) represents a valuable methodology for evaluating the environmental sustainability of technologies involving the use of such materials. This study deals with the LCA of alternative solutions for the construction and maintenance of unpaved rural roads. Different scenarios using recycled materials, such as reclaimed asphalt and mineral sludge, are analyzed and compared to a reference solution that employs only virgin aggregates. The environmental sustainability of the proposed alternatives is assessed by considering the global warming potential (GWP), energy requirements, and water consumption. The LCA analysis is performed using SimaPro software (version 9.1.1.7). The obtained results demonstrate that solutions involving the use of recycled materials represent a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option. In particular, a significant reduction in water depletion was found for the alternative scenarios, with savings between 56% and 99%. For GWP and energy, the total savings ranged from approximately 20% to 40%.

Agriculture, bioenergy, and water implications of constrained cereal trade and climate change impacts.

International trade increases connections and dependencies between countries, weaving a network of global supply chains. Agricultural commodity trade has implications for crop producers, consumers, crop prices, water and land uses, and other human systems. Interconnections among these systems are not always easy to observe when external impacts penetrate across multiple sectors. To better understand the interactions of non-linear and globally coupled agricultural-bioenergy-water systems under the broader economy, we introduce systematic perturbations in two dimensions, one human (restrictions on agricultural trade) and the other physical (climate impacts on crop yields). We explore these independently and in combination to distinguish the consequences of individual perturbation and interactive effects in long-term projections. We show that most regions experience larger changes in cereal consumption due to cereal import dependency constraints than due to the impacts of climate change on agricultural yields. In the scenario where all regions ensure an import dependency ratio of zero, the global trade of cereals decreases ~50% in 2050 compared to the baseline, with smaller decreases in cereal production and consumption (4%). The changes in trade also impact water and bioenergy: global irrigation water consumption increases 3% and corn ethanol production decreases 7% in 2050. Climate change results in rising domestic prices and declining consumption of cereal crops in general, while the import dependency constraint exacerbates the situation in regions which import more cereals in the baseline. The individual and interactive effects of trade perturbations and climate change vary greatly across regions, which are also affected by the regional ability to increase agricultural production through intensification or extensification.

A Critical Review of Recent Progress in Global Water Reuse during 2019–2021 and Perspectives to Overcome Future Water Crisis

The exacerbation of the global water crisis due to an increase in global population, industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural activities, along with global climate change and limited water resources, makes water reuse inevitable in all continents. By 2030, global water consumption may grow to ~160% of the currently available volume. This study reviews recently published articles (2019–2021) to explore global case studies of water reuse and discusses future perspectives by country based on a literature survey on water reuse. There are 17 obstacles reported worldwide regarding water reuse (e.g., the properties and low amounts of treated water, regulations, financial challenges, etc.) and 10 advantages of utilizing reused water in various fields (e.g., overcoming the global water crisis, improving the economy, benefiting the industrial sector, etc.). The concept of reusing water has been accepted by countries in almost every continent (e.g., Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and North America); the technical findings from different countries are summarized in this study. The water reuse scenario is not restricted to countries with limited water supply and can be applied to those with sufficient water resources (e.g., Canada and Brazil have also implemented water reuse policies). Water reuse can be utilized by human beings via indirect and direct potable recycling, as well as in agriculture, textile, construction, hotel, groundwater recharge, and aquaculture industries. However, a standard guideline for the application of reclaimed water at a global scale is unavailable. Several perspectives have been suggested for the future utilization of reclaimed water worldwide as an effort to secure and ensure the sustainability of existing natural water resources. Lastly, water reuse may be considered a potential alternative for reducing the burden on water resources in the future.

Assessing technological properties and environmental impact of fired bricks made by partially adding bottom ash from an industrial approach

Over the past few decades, the fired clay brick industry has searched for industrial wastes to substitute raw clay deposits and lessen their impact on the environment. Despite several investigations showing positive results, industrial applicability is still scarce, mainly due to differences between industrial and laboratory procedures and the usage of certain wastes that already have added value in other circular economy chains. In addition, the assessment of such proposals commonly misses the environmental impact issue which is merely assumed to be positive. For these reasons this study, for the first time, has assessed together technological properties and the environmental impact of bricks made by strictly following industrial procedures. Hence, biomass bottom ash (BBA) was added at 9 replacement ratios, ranging from 2.5 to wt. 20.0% for making extruded bricks subjected to industrial drying and firing curves. Physical, thermal and mechanical properties of fired products were properly assessed and compared with the requirements set forth by Chilean standards. In addition, a life cycle impact assessment was developed to compare the ecological footprint among series. Although mechanical and water-proof requirements may limit the replacement ratio for exposed bricks, the feasibility of using BBA at industrial scale has been successfully demonstrated. Regarding the environmental impact, the raw clay may be replaced without adversely causing toxicity levels to exceed mandatory limits. However, this study demonstrated that the incorporation of BBA increases CO2 emissions due to the decomposition of contained carbonates during the firing process which compromise the results in terms of global warming potential and water consumption which highly impact on human health and ecosystems quality.

What is the water footprint of EU food consumption? A comparison of water footprint assessment methods

Food consumption is responsible for most global water consumption and associated environmental consequences. Therefore, quantifying and monitoring the water footprint (WF) of food consumption patterns is relevant to support policymaking toward sustainable diets. Although multiple WF approaches are available, such as Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) and the model AWARE (Available Water Remaining) for supply chains analysis, the latest is considered the reference after following an international consultation process. This research aims to develop a comparative methodological approach between the volumetric blue water footprint assessment (WFA), a pressure method, and the scarcity-weighted WF AWARE model as an impact method to evaluate the WF of EU27 food consumption. Due to limited blue WFA data availability, two scopes were considered: an “aligned scope” (cradle to farm gate) comparing both methods and a “full supply chain scope” (cradle to grave) only possible with AWARE. In the aligned scope, almonds and cashew have the largest pressure and impact in both methods (per kg of product). EU food consumption has a WF pressure under an “aligned scope” of ≈54 m3/capita/year and an impact of ≈3525 m3 eq/capita/year. When considering the "full supply chain", WF impact due to EU food consumption increases by 30% (compared with the "aligned scope"), with wine and chocolate at the top of the ranking. Integration of WFA data within the LCA inventory could be explored when WFA data also covers indirect WF of background processes and other supply chain stages.

Input–Output Global Hybrid Analysis of Agricultural Primary Production (IO-GHAAPP) Database

In many regions of the world, water consumption exceeds the limits of sustainable water use. A commonly used method to examine the relationship between global water consumption and production is input–output analysis. However, between approximately 70% and 90% of freshwater consumption occurs in agricultural primary production, which is often represented by only a small percentage of the total number of sectors in input–output databases. As a result, water-related assessments based on input–output analysis are limited in their accuracy and substance. In addition, the assessment of the impact of water consumption is usually carried out at the national level, which can further contribute to the imprecision of the results. Therefore, the primary objective of this work was to develop an approach to better assess water use and its impacts in input–output analysis. In order to achieve this objective, a novel approach was adopted by integrating a global spatial model of agricultural primary production (MapSPAM) into an existing input–output database via prorating. In addition, the utilisation of MapSPAM allowed the calculation of water environmental extensions with unprecedented accuracy. The resulting Input–Output Global Hybrid Analysis of Agricultural Primary Production (IO-GHAAPP) approach includes (1) a novel input–output database and (2) novel environmental extensions for freshwater consumption and scarcity. The IO-GHAAPP database consists of 150 categories and 164 regions, resulting in a total of 24,600 region–category combinations. Forty-two of the categories are dedicated to agricultural primary production (28%). In comparison, the source input–output data consist of 120 categories and 164 regions, resulting in a total of 19,680 region–category combinations, of which 14 are dedicated to agricultural primary production (12%). The Python code and IO-GHAAPP database are openly available via Zenodo. The IO-GHAAPP approach is presented in a comparative analysis of agricultural primary production, along with the associated water consumption and water footprint, at both the global level and for the United States and India. Both countries are among the most important in the world in terms of agricultural primary production as well as associated water consumption and water scarcity. Furthermore, the IO-GHAAPP approach is applied in a simple case study of Germany, which stands in contrast as one of the largest importers of agricultural primary production on a global scale. The results show that the IO-GHAAPP approach adds a valuable layer of information to the disaggregated input–output data, allowing crop-specific analyses to be carried out that would otherwise not be possible, e.g., for specific leguminous or beverage crops. The results are relevant to practitioners of input–output analysis who are concerned with the impacts of agricultural primary production and who need highly resolved data, as well as to policy-makers who rely on such studies. The demonstrated IO-GHAAPP approach could be extended to other externalities relevant to agricultural primary production, such as land use, soil degradation or pollution.

Life cycle assessment of the sweetness enhancer thaumatin (E957) produced from Thaumatococcus daniellii fruit foraged from West Africa: The SWEET project

Replacing added sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners and sweetness enhancers is of increasing interest due to the negative health effects of excess sugar consumption. Much has been done to understand health and safety of such sweetening additives, but little on their sustainability. This study, part of the Horizon 2020 SWEET project, presents results from the first life cycle assessment of the sweetness enhancer thaumatin, produced from Thaumatococcus daniellii fruit, from forests in West Africa and extracted in the United Kingdom. Thaumatin is used in formulations to increase perceived sweetness of added sugar, allowing some to be removed. Environmental impact is reported for multiple impact categories from the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, focusing on global warming potential, land use, water consumption, and freshwater eutrophication. Impacts are expressed in terms of product mass and sweetness equivalence. Global warming potential for production of thaumatin is found to be 719.2 kgCO2-eq/kg. When thaumatin replaces 20% of added sugar, environmental impact for a given sweetness is found to reduce by an average of 19.4% across all impact categories. International transport is a major contributor to global warming potential, as is aril removal from the fruit to freshwater eutrophication and water use, and fruit foraging to land use. However, land use is identified as a key area of future research to improve uncertainty in the data. Results show that thaumatin can be used to reduce the environmental impact of providing sweet taste in food and beverage products.

Global monthly sectoral water use for 2010–2100 at 0.5° resolution across alternative futures

Water usage is closely linked with societal goals that are both local and global in scale, such as sustainable development and economic growth. It is therefore of value, particularly for long-term planning, to understand how future sectoral water usage could evolve on a global scale at fine resolution. Additionally, future water usage could be strongly shaped by global forces, such as socioeconomic and climate change, and the multi-sector dynamic interactions those forces create. We generate a novel global gridded monthly sectoral water withdrawal and consumption dataset at 0.5° resolution for 2010–2100 for a diverse range of 75 scenarios. The scenarios are harmonized with the five Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) and four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios to support its usage in studies evaluating the implications of uncertain human and earth system change for future global and regional dynamics. To generate the data, we couple the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) with a land use spatial downscaling model (Demeter), a global hydrologic framework (Xanthos), and a water withdrawal downscaling model (Tethys).

Hydrogels improved parsley (Petroselinium crispum(Mill.) Nyman) growth and development under water deficit stress.

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing problems facing countries in the semi-arid and arid regions of the world. Data predicts that by 2030, global water consumption will increase by 50%, leading to severe water shortages. Today, agricultural production consumes more than 70% of fresh water in many parts of the world, increasing the pressure on water scarcity. For these reasons, agricultural production models and approaches should be developed to reduce water consumption. One developed approach is the use of hydrogel to reduce water consumption and have a positive effect on plant growth. This study investigated the use of hydrogels as chemical components that can be used in water shortage conditions and against the expected water scarcity. Parsley was used as the model organism. The method used was as follows: two different water treatments (50% and 100%) and four different hydrogel concentrations (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were applied, and root width and length, leaf width and length, main stem length, and the number of tillers were measured. According to the results, while no improvement was observed in the plants with 100% hydrogel concentration, the best results were obtained from 50% hydrogel application. The results obtained from 75% hydrogel application were found to be higher than those of 100% hydrogel but lower than 0% hydrogel application. With 50% hydrogel (water-restricted), all plant growth parameters were higher compared to the plants with 100% (full irrigation) water application. It was determined that the average value of the I1 (50%) irrigation was the highest (3.6), and the average value of the I2 (100%) irrigation (2.4) was the lowest. It was determined that the highest average value (6.2) in all measured traits was the average value of the H1 (50%) application, and the lowest average value (0.0) was in the H3 hydrogel applications (100%). In conclusion, this study suggested that hydrogel application is beneficial on a large scale, can optimize water resource management for higher yields in agriculture, and has a positive effect on agricultural yield under water deficit stress.

Life-cycle assessment of yeast-based single-cell protein production with oat processing side-stream

Production of fish meal and plant-based feed proteins continues to increase to meet the growing demand for seafood, leading to impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Microbial proteins such as single-cell proteins (SCPs) have been introduced as feed alternatives since they can replace current fish feed ingredients, e.g., soybean, which are associated with negative environmental impacts. Microbial protein production also enables utilization of grain processing side-streams as feedstock sources. This study assesses the environmental impacts of yeast-based SCP using oat side-stream as feedstock (OS-SCP). Life-cycle assessment with a cradle-to-gate approach was used to quantify global warming, freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, land use, and water consumption of OS-SCP production in Finland. Dried and wet side-streams of oat were compared with each other to identify differences in energy consumption and transportation effects. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the difference in impacts at various locations and fermentation times. Benchmarking was used to evaluate the environmental impacts of OS-SCP and other feed products, including both conventional and novel protein products. Results highlight the importance of energy sources in quantifying the environmental performance of OS-SCP production. OS-SCP produced with dried side-streams resulted in higher global warming (16.3 %) and water consumption (7.5 %) than OS-SCP produced from wet side-streams, reflecting the energy and water requirements for the drying process. Compared with conventional products, such as soy protein concentrates, OS-SCP resulted in 61 % less land use, while exacerbating the environmental impacts in all the other categories. OS-SCP had more impact on global warming (205–754 %), water consumption (166–1401 %), freshwater eutrophication (118–333 %), and terrestrial acidification (85–340 %) than other novel products, including yeast protein concentrate, methanotrophic bacterial SCP, and insect meal, while lowering global warming (11 %) and freshwater eutrophication (20 %) compared with dry microalgae biomass.

Assessment of impacts of industrial effluents on physico-chemical and microbiological qualities of irrigation water of the Fez Rriver, Morocco.

Global water consumption has grown twice as fast as the population. Wastewater is therefore a valuable and renewable source and provides additional water for priority uses. Wastewater can also be a source of pollution; thus, its physico-chemical and biological compositions can present major risks to the environment and human health. The objective of this study was to assess the status of irrigation waters in terms of salinization, accumulation of metallic elements, and microbiological contamination by parasites and pathogenic bacteria. The study focused on the surface water of Oued Fès used for irrigation located downstream of the industrial zone of Doukkarat and upstream of the industrial zone of Ain Noukbi (wastewater) before the confluence with the Oued Sebou, as well as on the treated wastewater of the wastewater treatment plant. The physico-chemical and microbiological analyses were carried out in two periods: summer and winter. Metals were analyzed by ICP-AES. The chemical and bacteriological quality of the wastewater and treated wastewater was found to be poor. These were characterized by organic pollution, including biodegradable pollutants, while upstream the organic residues were not biodegradables. COD, BOD5, Kjeldahl nitrogen, as well as chloride ion (Cl-) are above the standard values. The highest concentrations of Cd, at 850µg/l, Cu, at 690µg/l and Mn, at 470µg/l, largely exceed the international standards and requirements. In addition to fecal contamination, characterized by total coliforms and thermo-tolerant coliforms, other pathogens were present, including helminth eggs, both in the wastewater and in the treated wastewater. Other pathogens, such as Vibrio cholera, were found at all three sites whether in winter or summer, with the exception of the downstream of Oued Fez in winter. As for Salmonella, it was present in treated wastewater during the winter only. The water used for irrigation upstream of Oued Fez and the treated wastewater have poor to very poor quality. Therefore, for a better use of these waters, it is necessary to ensure their regular treatment in order to minimize the impacts on the environment and human health.

Water and Electricity Consumption and Carbon Footprint of Washing Machines

Considering the relatively high share of households in global final energy and water consumption, washing machines are home appliances with a significant potential for electricity and water saving. The potential depends on the energy rating of a washing machine and the consumption habits of consumers in a household. Therefore, a survey was conducted to determine the laundry habits of domestic consumers and the characteristics of their washing machines. Considering collected information, the annual consumption of water and electrical energy and carbon footprint caused by the use of washing machines can be estimated and compared with the rest of the world. It was concluded that laundry washing causes around 10% and 4% of total water and energy consumption in the Republic of Serbia, respectively, with a carbon footprint of 423.33 ktCO2.