Application of Life Cycle Analysis approaches to develop the most sustainable way of dealing with solids in sewer systems

The search for sustainable ways of living has necessitated a new look at the way in which water services are provided. The new paradigm includes whole-system perspectives for each of the primary spheres: social, environmental and economic. Whilst LCA techniques have been used successfully for products, they are much less used to assess processes. Nonetheless there is much to learn from the use of LCA for a much wider range of applications. An application is described whereby LCA has been used to determine energy, mass flows and environmental impacts for a number of sewer-related options for handling sanitary sewer solids