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Article
Publication date: 1 February 2022

Sultan Kobeyev, Serik Tokbolat, Farnush Nazipov and Alfrendo Satyanaga

As the United States is making a significant move toward rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change, there is a high demand for sustainable solutions across various…

Abstract

Purpose

As the United States is making a significant move toward rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change, there is a high demand for sustainable solutions across various industries, including construction and hospitality sectors. The aim of this project was to design and model an on-site greywater treatment system for a hotel building for the effective reuse of sewage water. The study considered Los Angeles, California, as a case study location and referred to respective climate conditions and construction standards.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considered various options of greywater treatment plants such as membrane bioreactor (MBR), sequencing batch reactor and reverse osmosis with upflow anaerobic sludge blanket which were carefully reviewed and modeled using the GPS-X software. The design and modeling results were verified by hand calculations and were followed by the estimation of capital and operational expenses required for the implementation of the plants.

Findings

Having relatively low capital and operational expenditure requirements as well as superior technical performance, the MBR plant proved to be the most effective solution for the considered location and standards and was recommended for use in hotel buildings.

Practical implications

Designing and modeling several greywater treatment plants allowed selecting the most optimal option which in the long run will help to preserve the eco-system, stay compliant with the government laws and regulations and be financially sustainable.

Originality/value

The outcomes of the present study provide a detailed procedure for designing and modeling a greywater treatment plant for a hotel building that can be used for the localities with a similar climate. The most effective option selected as a result of cost-benefit analysis provides an efficient and viable solution for the relevant industry and the type of buildings.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 41 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 June 2015

Melesse Eshetu Moges, Fasil Ejigu Eregno and Arve Heistad

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of biochar and fine filtralite as a polishing filter material in further removing organic matter, phosphorous…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of biochar and fine filtralite as a polishing filter material in further removing organic matter, phosphorous, nitrogen, turbidity and indicator microorganisms from effluents of a compact greywater treatment plant (GWTP).

Design/methodology/approach

A filtration experiment was carried out using columns filled with biochar and fine filtralite as filter material and unfilled column as a control. The effluent from the GWTP was pumped using a peristaltic pump at a rate of 280 l/m2-d and was fed in upward flow into the columns. The quality parameters of the raw greywater, effluents from the GWTP and the polishing columns were studied for six months of operation period.

Findings

The results indicate that the process of polishing considerably improved the effluent quality of the system. Biochar performed best in removing organic matter, total N, turbidity and odor. Filtralite was superior in removing P. The contribution of the polishing step in removing total coliform bacteria (TCB) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) was remarkable. Additional log reduction of 2.18, 2.26 and 1.81 for TCB and 2.26, 2.70 and 2.01 for E. coli was obtained compared to the GWTP due to biochar, filtralite and control column, respectively.

Practical implications

This study demonstrates the opportunities for improving the performance of decentralized greywater treatment systems by integrating locally available polishing materials to achieve a better quality effluent.

Originality/value

The present study identifies efficient polishing system for decentralized and compacted greywater treatment system. The recommended polishing materials potentially improve the quality of effluents and add social, economic and environmental values.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 26 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 May 2013

Helene Slagstad and Helge Brattebø

The paper aims to discuss how life cycle assessment can be used in the early stage planning phase of new settlements.

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to discuss how life cycle assessment can be used in the early stage planning phase of new settlements.

Design/methodology/approach

By applying the life cycle methodology on the waste, water and wastewater system of a new carbon‐neutral settlement under planning in Norway, the authors discuss the pros and cons with applying this methodology in an early planning phase.

Findings

The LCA methodology enabled the authors to compare suggestions from interdisciplinary planning teams, relate them to the existing systems in Trondheim and provide quantitative results back to the decision‐makers, in this case the municipality. The environmental benefits of implementing alternative solutions in the waste, water and wastewater systems were found to be small.

Research limitations/implications

Data availability and uncertainty can be limitations in the early planning phase.

Practical implications

By applying this methodology, the life cycle environmental impact of different solutions can be assessed at an early planning stage.

Originality/value

Even if life cycle assessment has been used for years in the research community, there is too little experience with applying the methodology in the early planning phase of new projects. This paper discuss how life cycle assessment can be used to compare suggestions from interdisciplinary planning teams, relate them to existing systems and provide quantitative results back to the decision‐makers.

Details

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 2 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-6099

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 August 2018

Huseyin Guven and Aysegul Tanik

Rough estimations of water gain through greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting together with energy recovery from wastewater generated from a fictitious eco-city of population…

Abstract

Purpose

Rough estimations of water gain through greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting together with energy recovery from wastewater generated from a fictitious eco-city of population 100,000 located in Istanbul, Turkey form the main framework of the study. As such, the highly important concept of water–energy nexus will be emphasised and domestic wastewater will be partly considered for water recycling and the rest for energy recovery. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Distribution of daily domestic water consumption among different household uses and the population in the residential area are the two governing parameters in the practical calculation of daily wastewater generated. Therefore, domestic wastewater will be initially estimated based on population, and in turn, the amount of greywater will be found from the per cent distribution of water use. After segregation of greywater, the energy equivalency of the rest of the wastewater, known as blackwater, will further be calculated. Besides, the long-term average precipitation data of the geographical location (Istanbul) are used in determining safe and sound rainwater harvesting. Harvesting is considered to be only from the roofs of the houses; therefore, surface area of the roofs is directly taken from an actual residential site in Turkey, housing the same population which is constructed in four stages. Similarly, the fictitious eco-city in Istanbul is assumed to be constructed in a stage-wise manner to resemble real conditions.

Findings

The water consumption of the fictitious eco-city ABC is considered as 15,000 m3/day by taking the unit water consumption 150 L/capita.day. Therefore, total water savings through on-site reuse and reuse as irrigation water (9,963 m3/day) will reduce water consumption by 64 per cent. Minimum 40 per cent water saving is shown to be possible by means of only greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting with a long-term average annual precipitation of 800 mm. The energy recovery from the rest of the wastewater after segregation of greywater is calculated as 15 MWh/day as electricity and heat that roughly correspond to electricity demand of 1,300 households each bearing four people.

Research limitations/implications

A fictitious eco-city rather than an actual one located in Istanbul is considered as the pilot area in the study. So far, an eco-city with population around 100,000 in Turkey does not exist. An important implication relates to rainwater harvesting. The amount of safe water to be gained through precipitation is subject to fluctuations within years and, thus, the amount of collected rainwater will highly depend on the geographical location of such an eco-city.

Practical implications

The study covering rough calculations on water savings and energy recovery from domestic wastewater will act as a guide to practitioners working on efficient water management in the eco-cities, especially in those that are planned in a developing country.

Originality/value

Practising water–energy nexus in an eco-city of population 100,000 regarding water savings and energy recovery from wastewater forms the originality of the study. Sustainable water use and energy recovery from wastewater are among the emerging topics in environmental science and technology. However, safe and sound applications are lacking especially in the developing countries. Guiding these countries with practical calculations on both water gain and energy recovery from wastewater (blackwater) is the value of the work done. Moreover, Istanbul is deliberately selected as a case study area for various reasons: its annual rainfall represents the worlds’ average, it is one of the most crowded megacities of the world that supply water demand from the surface water reservoirs and the megacity has not yet significantly increased wastewater reuse and recycling practices.

Details

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-6099

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2001

Akissa Bahri

Urban population growth has increased pressure on natural resources, water in particular. It has resulted in serious water stresses, poor waste management and severe diffuse…

1679

Abstract

Urban population growth has increased pressure on natural resources, water in particular. It has resulted in serious water stresses, poor waste management and severe diffuse pollution. To achieve more favourable solutions, there is a need to look for technological alternatives based on the principles of closing cycles. Incorporation of the agricultural system to the sanitary system with nutrient recycling is one of the major ways of closing the loops in urban and peri‐urban areas. However, various partnerships with all actors of the civil society should be established. Development and implementation of successful reuse operations require more research work to define urban models in which material cycles are closed at affordable economic costs. This paper aims at discussing alternative water management approaches to ensure environmentally sound urban and peri‐urban water‐related relationships.

Details

Environmental Management and Health, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0956-6163

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 16 October 2020

Paloma Escamilla-Fajardo, Juan Núñez-Pomar and Vanessa Ratten

The sports field is in constant change and adaptation, which leads to a need to explore new strategies to achieve success. This is why interest in technology has increased in…

Abstract

The sports field is in constant change and adaptation, which leads to a need to explore new strategies to achieve success. This is why interest in technology has increased in recent years. However, despite its undeniable importance, there is no quantitative data that provides a macroscopic view of the existing literature. Therefore, the objective of this study is to carry out a bibliometric analysis that provides structured information on the origin and academic evolution of technology in the sports field. To this end, a total of 170 articles published between 1977 and 2019 in the Web of Science (Core Collection) related to technology in sport have been analyzed. The 170 publications cover 396 authors, 134 journals, 37 countries and 261 institutions. In order to carry out the analyses, authors, journal, institution and country have been taken into account, as well as the co-authoring, co-citation and co-words networks. This information can provide an overview of the three thematic areas found: (i) technology in sport from an educational perspective, (ii) technology in sport from a medical-performance perspective, and (iii) technology in sport from a management perspective.

Details

A Guide to Planning and Managing Open Innovative Ecosystems
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78973-409-6

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 October 2019

Adjie Pamungkas and Santika Purwitaningsih

This paper aims to advance the idea of sustainable flood reduction. Flood reduction through the use of the drainage system is considered an unsustainable approach that decreases…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to advance the idea of sustainable flood reduction. Flood reduction through the use of the drainage system is considered an unsustainable approach that decreases the use of water. In contrast, the Water Sensitive City is a sustainable concept aimed at increasing the value of water for human needs and reduce flooding.

Design/methodology/approach

The current approach of relying on drainage systems is ineffective and must be combined with green infrastructures to reduce flooding. Green infrastructures can increase infiltration rates or facilitate rain harvesting. The study developed four scenarios that combine green and grey infrastructures and used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to select the most effective scenario based on the remaining amount of flood volume in every scenario.

Findings

Green infrastructures that are related to increased infiltration and rain-harvesting instruments reduced flooding by 22.3 and 27.7 per cent, respectively. Furthermore, a combination of the two types of green infrastructures reduced flooding up to 45.5 per cent. Conversely, applying only grey infrastructures (by increasing drainage capacity) to reduce the flooding to zero is unfeasible, as this requires more than double the current capacity. Therefore, a combination of green and grey infrastructures can significantly reduce flooding in a water sensitive and feasible manner.

Originality/value

Applying a combination of green and grey infrastructures is a new and effective approach to reduce flooding in the Kedurus Catchment Area.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 10 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 January 2022

Hani Gilani, Sahar Shobeiry, Mohammad Biglari Kami and Hadi Sahebi

A sustainable selection method for facility location of the water treatment is formulated by best–worst method. In addition, the model addresses the selection of appropriate…

Abstract

Purpose

A sustainable selection method for facility location of the water treatment is formulated by best–worst method. In addition, the model addresses the selection of appropriate technologies in the treatment plant, management of water leakage in the whole transmission network by using modernization and selection of different transmission technologies. Finally, the interaction between water and energy in this network seems to be paying particular attention.

Design/methodology/approach

Rapid population growth and urban development, and the constraints of water supply have become one of the crucial challenges around the world in the 21st century. Hence, the use of refined urban wastewater is increasing in many countries as an alternative source of water. In this regard, the rehabilitation of urban wastewater recycling and reuse has been proposed as one of the most suitable solutions for urban water management. Hence, in this paper, a mathematical model is formulated to design the simultaneous marketing of the urban water distribution network and wastewater treatment (including).

Findings

It seeks to ensure that energy is supplied through chemical methods to ensure that the system's energy dependence is on the national electricity grid. And in order to validate the model, a case study has been studied. By analyzing the results, it can be concluded that the upgrading of sewage treatment plants to replace underground water and water from nearby dams in household, agricultural and industrial applications will have positive environmental and economic impacts. One of the notable environmental impacts is the decline in groundwater and water scarcity in the coming years.

Originality/value

The summary of contributions is presented follow as: design and planning of water and urban wastewater integrated network; sustainable selection of facility location for the water treatment; capability selecting different treatment technologies in simultaneous design water and urban sewage supply chain; managing water leak in the network; proposed a water–energy nexus model in simultaneous design water and urban sewage supply chain; studying the feasibility of construction of power plants from biogas, the resulting of anaerobic digestion in treatment centers.

Article
Publication date: 3 January 2019

Khaled Amiri, Tarik Hartani and Aziez Zeddouri

The purpose of this paper is to assess the water quality parameters resulting on: First, the flow direction in biofilters (ascending or descending), second, constructed wetland…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the water quality parameters resulting on: First, the flow direction in biofilters (ascending or descending), second, constructed wetland (CW) with local plant species and third, the combined system for the removal of organic matter and nutrients pollutants from water in arid regions.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated system is presented and tested in situ with a vertical up-flow and down-flow biofilters. Two configurations schemes are followed by a three separated horizontal subsurface CWs: two planted with Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia and the third unplanted. The methodology is based on a statistical analysis of the collected data.

Findings

The present experiment demonstrated that the wetlands planted with P. australis and T. latifolia showed the highest removal. Moreover, T. latifolia performed better than P. australis for most of the parameters, notably in the first system, whereas the wetland efficiency indicated that P. australis contributed greatly to the removal of TP in the first system and NO3-N in the second system. In general, for the highest removal efficiencies of the combined biofilters and wetlands system, the present study demonstrated that the first system performed better than the second for all the parameters.

Originality/value

The originality of the research is that it compares in situ two biofilter systems: vertical up-flow and down-flow biofilters. To avoid the effects of domestic wastewater that is discharged directly without treatment in the Oued Righ channel or in the lake, this integrated system can be one of the alternatives for wastewater treatment, as it reveals the need to protect aquatic ecosystems in arid regions, and can decrease the risks to human health and the environment.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 August 2024

Michael Nii Addy, Florence Dadzoe, Titus Ebenezer Kwofie, Clinton Aigbavboa and Barbara Simons

Climate change and global warming are two major ecological concerns. The construction industry has instituted measures such as green construction in response to these concerns…

Abstract

Purpose

Climate change and global warming are two major ecological concerns. The construction industry has instituted measures such as green construction in response to these concerns. This study seeks to assess the views of architects on the uptake of innovative green construction (IGC) in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate the factors influencing the decision to adopt IGC. A structured questionnaire was issued to architects who have been involved in the design and/or construction of green buildings in Ghana. The dataset was obtained from 61 architects and Partial Least Square was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results show that two TPB factors; attitude and perceived behavioural control are significant determinants of architects’ intention to adopt IGC. Interestingly, behavioural intention did not have an influence on the actual behaviour of IGC adoption. However, perceived behavioural control had a significant impact on the actual adoption of IGC.

Practical implications

Contextually, the findings of the study will contribute to policy development and marketing of various green innovation within the Ghanaian construction milieu. Practically, the study will help encourage stakeholders to build the right capacity and competence towards the uptake of IGC.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is based on the theoretical framework underpinning the study and the target respondents as the unit of analysis in assessing the full uptake of IGC in Ghana. The utility of the model evinces the role behavioural changes play in ecological development.

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 14 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

Keywords

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