The objective of this study was to quantify potential mitigation of environmental impacts from the operation and construction of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) from implementing specific design recommendations. The study investigated small WWTPs, many of which are serving slow growing or declining populations. Life Cycle Assessment methodology was used to evaluate and compare the inventory and environmental impacts of nine small WWTP case studies. Detailed inventory data was collected from the facilities’ engineering design plans and utility bills. One recommended practice was to avoid significant overdesign by planning for no lower than a 75% capacity utilization by the facilities’ end-of-life. A theoretical correction to a 75% capacity utilization was estimated to mitigate 0.4% of lifetime electricity usage and 1% of secondary process concrete for every 1% reduction in design average flow rate. Relatedly, a 0.4% mitigation in the Carcinogenic and Global Warming impacts could be achieved for every 1% reduction in design average flow toward a 75% capacity utilization. Other suggested practices were focused on conveyance, namely, to minimize non-process facility area and to use polyvinyl chloride pipe instead of ductile iron pipe where possible. The latter practice was estimated to mitigate between 1.1 and 4.8% of the Carcinogenic impact in the nine case studies.

本研究的目的是通过实施特定的设计建议来量化污水处理厂 (WWTP) 的运营和建设对环境影响的潜在缓解。该研究调查了小型污水处理厂，其中许多为缓慢增长或下降的人口提供服务。生命周期评估方法用于评估和比较九个小型污水处理厂案例研究的清单和环境影响。从设施的工程设计计划和水电费账单中收集了详细的库存数据。一种推荐的做法是通过规划在设施的使用寿命结束时不低于 75% 的容量利用率来避免显着的过度设计。据估计，对 75% 的产能利用率进行理论修正可以缓解 0。设计平均流量每降低 1%，生命周期用电量的 4% 和二次加工混凝土的 1%。相关地，设计平均流量每减少 1%，就可以实现 0.4% 的致癌和全球变暖影响的缓解，以实现 75% 的产能利用率。其他建议的做法侧重于运输，即尽量减少非加工设施面积，并在可能的情况下使用聚氯乙烯管代替球墨铸铁管。在九个案例研究中，估计后一种做法可减轻 1.1% 至 4.8% 的致癌影响。其他建议的做法侧重于运输，即尽量减少非加工设施面积，并在可能的情况下使用聚氯乙烯管代替球墨铸铁管。在九个案例研究中，估计后一种做法可减轻 1.1% 至 4.8% 的致癌影响。其他建议的做法侧重于运输，即尽量减少非加工设施面积，并在可能的情况下使用聚氯乙烯管代替球墨铸铁管。在九个案例研究中，估计后一种做法可减轻 1.1% 至 4.8% 的致癌影响。