Usage of the life cycle assessment method for environmental impact assessment of wastewater treatment plant

The implementation of Directive 91/271/ECC concerning Urban Wastewater Treatment, leads to increase in the number of waste water treatment plants in Slovakia.The contribution is aimed at assessing the environmental impacts of the wastewater treatment process within the wastewater treatment plant using life cycle assessment. Life cycle assessment is an optional environmental management tool that focuses on the entire life cycle of a product and uses assessment methods to determinate adverse environmental impacts. The assessment of wastewater treatment plant is focused to the analysis of the individual factors identified by the physical-chemical analysis of wastewater. The correct application of the ISO 14040 standard assigns the accuracy of the analysis results and determines the individual elements of the system. Based on this ISO standard the system boundaries, the functional unit and the subsystems are defined