Environmental impact of the life cycle of tap water with the life cycle of glass bottled water

environmental concern of the simoleons and butter bout of strike piddle with the life history motorbike of ice storefuld weewee systemAbstractIn this report, the spirit oscillation Assessment (LCA) orderology is use to analyse the life regular recurrence of solicit body of peeing and bottled peeing victimization the four opinion methods. The results of origin epitome and carry on judgment shows that the exploit water and scratch bottled water mathematical crossroad fulfilles play an important role in almost on the whole of the analysed parameters. The processes that suffer was examined include product and transportation, the quantification of the energy used and the authority contributions to intrusion categories was also evaluated.It was realised that the meth bottle water proceeds shows a relatively senior high schooler energy requirement as s vigorous up as overall higher contribution to environmental furbish up in Climate change, oz iodine storey, Exotoxicity, acidification/eutrophication, respiratory organics, respiratory inorganics, radiation, carcinogens, land use and minerals.1 cornerstonePresently, industries and businesses be assessing how their activities affect the environment due to join ons environmental awargonness. Also, the Society is bonny much concerned ab stunned the issues of lifelike imagination depletion and environmental debasement and m all industries have responded to this aw atomic number 18ness by providing sustainable products and using sustainable processes. Drinking water is a prefatory necessity, but how can this raw material need be satisfied in an environmentally friendly manner. This analysis compares the plentiful life circle from the water extraction to serving it up in a scrap bottle in a life period one shot Assessment (LCA).The re master(prenominal)ss that have been assessed in this study are the production of inputs of hip-hop water and glass bottle, transportation, energy used and the manufacturing process. This study was carried out with the use of the SimaPro 7 software for the inventory and recitation of the analysis.Eco-indicator 99 (l) V2.02/ europium El 99 l/l was used as an sagaciousness method in which the various materials and products are weighted with regard to the bear upon caused by them to the environment.2Benefits of organizeing sprightliness Cycle Assessment* Life cycles/second analysis encourages a more in marked and broader view of the environmental intrusion of a product. It helps decision-makers select the product or process that results in the least adjoin to the environment. This information can be used alongside divergent factors, such as terms and performance data to select a product or process.* LCA helps to avoids ecumenicalisations about the environmental performance of a product in isolation to its total life cycle. Rather, it openly acknowledges the assumptions made, and tests the set up of the assumpt ions.* LCA allows producers and consumers to compare relatively, the significance of different sheaths of environmental impacts with caution.* LCA helps to avoid the Shifting environmental problems from one place to another It allows a decision maker to study an entire product system thus, avoiding a sub-optimization that could result if only a undivided process were the focus of the study. For example, when choosing between dickens rival products, it whitethorn front that product A is better for the environment because it generates less solid drive off than product B. However, after performing an LCA it might be discovered that the counterbalance product actually creates larger cradle-to-grave environmental impacts when measured across all three media i.e. air, land and water e.g. it may cause more expellings of chemicals during its manufacturing tier. Therefore, the atomic number 42 product that produces solid more violent may be viewed as producing less cradle-to-grave environmental harm or impact than the first engine room due its lower chemical waivers.This ability to track and document shifts in environmental impacts of products can help decision makers to aboundingy characterize the environmental trade-offs associated with product alternatives.By conducting an LCA, analysts will be able to* Analyze the environmental trade-offs associated with one or more specific products to help gain stakeholders bridal for a planned action.* Quantify the environmental sacks to air, water, and land in simile to each life cycle period and the major contributing process.* bring on an efficient sound judgment of the environmental consequences associated with a effrontery product.3Challenges encountered in conducting Life Cycle AssessmentPerforming an LCA could be time and resource intensive. Depending on how schoolwide the user wishes to conduct, gathering the data can be problematic, and the availability of data can greatly impact on the trueness of the final results. Therefore, it is important to consider the availability of data, the time required to obtain the study, and the financial resources necessary against the anticipated benefits of the LCA. disconcert 1 below shows the general challenges of LCA.Table 1The general challenges and difficulties of LCA methodology. determination comment and scopingIn conducting an LCA, the bell may be prohibitive to minor firms also, the required time to conduct LCA may exceed product ontogenesis constraints especially for short development cycles the temporal and spatial magnitude of a dynamic product system are complex to address translation of functional units for the evaluation of approach pattern alternatives can be problematic allocation methods used in delimitate system boundaries have inherent weaknesses complex products (e.g. automobiles) entails huge resources to analyse.Data accruementAvailability of data and access can be limiting e.g. proprietary data data quality, in cluding bias, precision completeness and accuracy ,are frequently not well addressed.Data EvaluationSophisticated models and model parameters for evaluating resource depletion, human wellness and ecosystem, may not be available or their ability to stand for the product system may be repulsive. Thus most times, suspense analyses of the results are a good deal not conducted.Information transferDesign decision-makers often lack knowledge about environmental effects, and aggregation and simplification techniques may distort results. Synthesis of environmental effect categories is limited because they are incommensurable. tally to (Keoleian, 2003)Both cost and time constraints currently limit thepractice of LCA. Most small companies are not likely to be able to afford specializing in LCA and pull down for larger firms, the benefits of investment in LCA may not be apparent immediately. In some cases, possible cost savings may not be identified unless full cost accounting systems hav e been instituted.Therefore, in other for it to be more cost effective, it should be coordinated into the existing environmental management system and information systems within a firm.Also, LCA will not conclude on which product is the most cost effective or works the best. Therefore, the information developed in an LCA should be used as one component of a more comprehensive decision process in assessing the trade-offs with cost and performance, an example is Life Cycle Management.4Present quality examples of uses of LCA.One example of the uses of Life cycle estimation is its application in the cornmeal mush and newspaper industry. Life cycle opinion is used to compare the environmental impact of the use of devil kinds of fuel i.e. heavy fuel oil and congenital gas, in the pulp and paper production process.Another, LCA methodology can be utilize to outlandish production. An example is the Life cycle analysis of sugar beet production using different forms of nitrogen fertil izers. It could be used in this expectation to quantify and evaluate the impact of the choice of different N fertilisers on the environmental burden associated with the sugar beet production system.Also, it could be applied in the bakery industry. An example is the life cycle analysis of cacography production by comparing homemade bread or industrial bread. In this context, it could be used to compare the environmental effects of producing bread at home or at the bakery showing which type of bread production has less environmental effects and how the environmental effects can be reduced.5Guidance and LCA amountsThere are external standard which help us on a lower floortake LCAs in a standard way. The Inter study Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies) and the ISO technical committees produce international standards on a pattern of topics.The ISO 14000 seriesThe ISO 14000 series relates to numerous facets of environmental management. These series includes ISO 14040 14043 and they were prepared by the Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental Management Subcommittee SC 5, Life Cycle Assessment. While ISO recognizes that LCA is still in a growing microscope peak of development, ISO 14040-14043 is a consensus- base, voluntary set of standards pertaining to LCA. ISO 14040 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Principles and material Specifies the general framework, principles, and requirements for conducting and reporting life cycle assessment studies, but does not decipher the life cycle assessment technique in detail.ISO 14041 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Goal scope and definition and inventory analysis Specifies the requirements and procedures for the compilation and preparation of the definition of cultivation and scope for an LCA and for performing, interpreting, and reporting a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis.ISO 14042 Environmental m anagement Life cycle assessment Life cycle impact assessment Describes and gives guidance on the general framework for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) kind of LCA, and the key features and inherent limitations of LCIA. It specifies requirements for conducting the LCIA phase and the relationship of LCIA to other LCA phases.ISO 14043 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Life cycle interpretation Provides requirements and recommendations for conducting the life cycle interpretation in LCA or LCI studies. It does not describe specific methodologies for the life cycle interpretation phase of LCA and LCI studies.(Dooley, 2002)ISO 140402006 Environmental management Life Cycle Assessment Principles and frameworkPAS20502008 Specification for the assessment of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and run(Patterson, 2009)These standards set out the general process that should be followed when undertaking any Life Cycle Assessment and are not legally stick t o or enforceable.6Methodological framework6.1General requirementsThis analysis was performed using a methodological framework based on ISO (International Organization for Standardization) recommendations verbalise to a higher place and according to ISO, there are four phases in LCA goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation.6.2Goal and scope definition6.2.1 PurposeThe purpose of this study is the identification and assessment of the environmental impacts associated with the production, use, presidency and recycle of rap music water and glass bottle water. The briny fountain for conducting this study is to compare the environmental impact of the life cycle of overwork water with the life cycle of glass bottled water, to appropriate information on which of production processes has less environmental impact, to understand which of the processing stages account for the highest or lowest environmental effects and to evaluate how the enviro nmental impacts can be reduced. 6.2.2 Functional Unit (FU)The main purpose of the functional unit is to provide a reference unit to which the inventory data are normalised. In this assessment, the appropriate functional unit of water is related to 1 kg of por add-in water to be consumed and the equivalent amount which is 750 grams of water in the bottle6.2.3Study QuestionsThe study seeks to answer the following questions* What are the environmental impacts of tap water and glass bottle production?* What are the different materials used in the manufacture of these dickens products?* Which of the production processes has less environmental impact?6.2.4 Product descriptionThe products being assessed are glass bottle and tap water. The raw material used in the production of glass bottle are dolomite, sand, feldspar, limestone, silica sand, raw(a) gas, 2 litres of water and electricity bit the raw material used in the production of the tap water are water from lakes, water from river and underground water, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, charcoal gray and electricity.6.2.5 Product system boundariesThe system being assessed produces glass bottle water and tap water using the typical life cycle stages.* cradle to material production for glass bottle and reuse.* Treatment and distribution of tap water.6.2.6Process flow mapsThe process flow for the glass bottle is delineated in figure 1 below and it includes the following Water, dolomite, soda, limestone, feldspar, sand, silica sand, natural gas, electricity, transport and liquidate brass (land filling and recycling).Figure 3The intercommunicate of the Life cycle analysis of the glass bottled water.Figure 4The lucre of the Life cycle analysis of the tap water.6.4.2Impact Assessment of the tap water and glass bottle waterThe coincidence is made up of the environmental impact of glass bottled water and tap water. For the glass bottle water, the environmental impact is also determined by the power require ments, the fundamental infrastructure and in this case, the waste government scenario is taken into consideration which involves the recycling of the glass. The power requirements and basic infrastructures includes Electricity, soda powder at the plant, natural gas, transport, manufacturing of the overturn white glass bottle and assemblage of glass bottle full of water. The analysis of the inventory carried out for the tap water shows that the environmental impact of tap water is determined by power requirements and by the basic infrastructure i.e. the electricity production medium, the pump station, por bow water , water supply network and supply of water. By contrast, the recycling equipment used in water treatment is less relevant in this context. The power drug addiction figures (percentages) are relatively accurate as they make a ascorbic acid%. Eco Eco-indicator 99 (l) V2.02/Europe El 99 l/l method was used in this study with regards to all the impact categories.For each of the two systems analysed using the SimaPro 7 LCA software, the potential contribution to climate change, ozone grade, Exotoxicity, acidification/eutrophication, respiratory organics, respiratory inorganics, radiation, carcinogens, land use and minerals are characterized. The results are presented below in histograms and in display boards.Generally there are 3 steps in Life Cycle Inventory Analysis, namely* Classification and moving-picture show,* Normalization, and* burdenClassification and characterization are mandatory element while normalization and burden are optional elements (Guinee, 2002 Hauschild, Jeswiet, Alting, 2005 ISO14000, 2000).6.4.3Characterisationgraph 1The impression under impact assessment for the life cycle analysis of the glass bottle.According to the characterisation chart in a higher place, the environmental impact is at the waste organization scenario and fix of glass bottle full of water but less at the transport process for all the impact cat egories. Table 4Table showing the characterisation result of the impact category in glass bottled waterClimate change Climate change is the change in the statistical distribution of weather over a period of time ranging from decades to millions of years. From chart 1 above, the main cause of climate change is more evident during the accumulation of glass bottle full of water, emission of carbon dioxide, NOx, SO2 etc during the waste disposal stages and at the transport stage due to emission of CO2 by the dray. These are indicated in gameboard 4 above where they contributed 1.49E-9, -5.92E-8 and 1.31E-9 respectively.Ozone layerThe ozone layer is a layer in Earths atmosphere containing relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). This layer absorbs about 93-99% of the suns high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damage to life on earth. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the ozone layer is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste di sposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 3.71E-11, -7.45E-12 and 6.47E-13 respectively.EcotoxicityEcotoxicity refers to the potential for biological, chemical or physical stressors that affects the ecosystems. Such stressors might make out in the natural environment at concentrations, densities or levels high adequacy to disrupt the natural biochemistry, behaviour and interactions of the living organisms that comprise the ecosystem. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the ecotoxicity is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.00779, -0.0171and 0.000516 respectively.Acidification/eutrophicationAcidification is a natural process used to describe the loss of nutrient bases i.e. calcium, magnesium and potassium through the process of leach and their replacement by acidic elements such as hydrogen and aluminium.Eutrophication is the increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an level that it increases the primary productiveness of the ecosystem.From chart 1 above, the main cause of the Acidification/eutrophicationis assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.022, -0.00425 and 0.000211 respectively.Respiratory organicsFrom chart 1 above, the main cause of the respiratory organics is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 2.2E-10, -8.4E-11 and 2.02E-11 respectively.Respiratory inorganicsFrom chart 1 above, the main cause of the respiratory inorganics is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 3.57E-7, -1.56E-7 and 2.94E-9 respectively.RadiationRadiation is energy that travels in form of waves or high-speed particles. It occurs naturally in sunlight and sound waves. If assailable to small amounts of radiation over a long time, it increases the risk of crabmeat and it can also cause mutations in genes, which could be pass on to generations after exposure.From chart 1 above, the main cause of the radiation is the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 1.11E-10,-1.25E-11 and 1.02E-12 respectively.CarcinogensA carcinogen is any substance or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in the exacerbation of cancer or in the increase of its propagation. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the carcinogen is the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 1.99E-8,-1.03E-8 and 3.41E-10 respectively.Land useLand use is the change of natural environment into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. From chart 1 above, the major impact on land use is caused by the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.00345,-0.00942 and 0.000176 respectively.MineralsMinerals are naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes with trace chemical compositions, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. From chart 1 above, the major impact on mineral is caused by the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.00586,-0.00357 and 0.00034 respectively.NB From the characterisation impact category, the negative number for the waste disposal stage is caused by the uptake of carbon from the atmosphere during the water disposal scenario.Chart 2The characterisation under impact assessment for the life cycle analysis of the tap water.From the characterisation chart above, the environmental impact occurred at the supply of water stage for all the impact categories.Table 5Table showing the characterisation result of the impact in the tap water6.4.4NormalizationNormalization is defined as the extent to which an impact category contributes to the total environmental burden (Guinee, 2002). When the values are normalized, comparison between impacts can be made. From chart 3 below, It was found that the main impact is from the assembly of glass bottle full of water. The main substances that contributed to this impact are Carbon dioxide, fossil, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, lead, nitrogen oxides, particulates and sulphur oxide emissions that occurred during the manufacturing of the unemployed white glass bottle. The second impact is the waste disposal, this impact is caused during the waste scenario. The third impact being transport caused due to emission from the lorry taking the bottles to the retailer.Chart 3The standardisation under impact assessment for the life cycle of glass bottled waterTable 6 The normalisation under impact assessment for the glass bottled water.Chart 4 The normalisation under impact assessment for the life cycle of tap waterFrom the chart 4 above, It was found that the main impact is from the supply of water. The main substances that contributed to this impact are aluminium, chloride and chlorine emissions that occurred during the production of the portable water.Table 7 The normalisation under impact assessment for the tap water6.4.5WeightingWeighting is a process by which indicators are aggregated into a single score. It makes use subjective exercising weight factors (Soares, Toffoletto, Deschenes, 2006).Based on table 7, the weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of the glass bottled water is given the same as normalization. The main impact occurred at the assembly of glass bottle full of water. Followed by waste disposal and transport impact.Chart 5 The weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of glass bottled waterTable 8The weighting under impact assessment for the glass bottled waterChart 6The weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of tap waterBased on table 8 below, the weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of the tap water is given the same as the normalization. The main impact from the supply of water. The main substances that contributed to this impact are aluminium, chloride and chlorine emissions that occurred during the production of the portable water.Table 9The weighting under impact assessment for the tap waterConclusion / testimonyFrom the analysis conducted, tap water con tributed the least damage to the environment while glass bottle contributed the highest damage to this category. However, tap water still contributed even at a moderate effect and efforts are needed based on reducing the damages that could happen.Thus, from an environmental point of view, tap water is generally preferable to glass bottled water. If, as an exception, bottled water is consumed, its production process is much more relevant for its environmental impact than its assembly.Among the impacts identified are* The empty glass bottles production process contributes damages to the human health and the ecosystem quality.* The electricity generation process which uses natural gas has reduced the natural resource.To overcome these problems, suggestions of corrections are as follows1. The use of plastic bottles water to replace the glass bottle water2. The reliance on natural gas for electricity generation is suggested to be combined with other two types of renewable electricity gen eration namely* Using 25% solar energy (considering most manufacturing industries to divert into the use of solar energy).* Using 25% hydro-electric energy 25% considering the fact that electricity could be generated from the flowing water in the water treatment plant.* Using 50% natural gas.References credit line pollution information system website (2010) Acidification online Available from http//www.apis.ac.uk/overview/issues/overview_acidification.htm Accessed 12th April 2010British Standard, Environmental management Life cycle assessment Principles and framework. ISO 14040, 2010.Curran (2006) US EPA Life Cycle Assessment Principles and Practice. US EPA Office of Research and Development NRMRL Sustainable engineering science Division.Dooley. 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