Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality

Water reuse has become a promising strategy to address water scarcity and reduce pressure on natural water resources, particularly for irrigation practices. However, the implementation of water reuse for irrigation requires careful planning to address potential challenges, such as water quality conc...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Feijoo Moreira, Helena, Estévez Rivadulla, Sofía, González García, Sara, Moreira Vilar, María Teresa
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Repositorio:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:minerva.usc.gal:10347/45279
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10347/45279
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Wastewater
Life Cycle Assessment
Irrigation
Carbon capture
Water neutrality
330810 Tecnología de aguas residuales
330806 Regeneración del agua
330811 Control de la contaminación del agua
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spelling Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutralityFeijoo Moreira, HelenaEstévez Rivadulla, SofíaGonzález García, SaraMoreira Vilar, María TeresaWastewaterLife Cycle AssessmentIrrigationCarbon captureWater neutrality330810 Tecnología de aguas residuales330806 Regeneración del agua330811 Control de la contaminación del aguaWater reuse has become a promising strategy to address water scarcity and reduce pressure on natural water resources, particularly for irrigation practices. However, the implementation of water reuse for irrigation requires careful planning to address potential challenges, such as water quality concerns, public acceptance and the environmental impacts of treatment processes. To support informed decision-making, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) serves as a powerful tool for evaluating the environmental implications of different water reuse strategies. This study presents a comparative analysis of several biological treatment systems across different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, including membrane bioreactors, filtration systems, constructed wetlands, and advanced oxidation processes. In addition to assessing the environmental performance of these technologies, this research work also links the LCA outcomes with the concepts of water and carbon neutrality in wastewater treatment plants. The results indicate that, among the four processes, only one achieves a positive water balance: the bio-filter system, which is also the best performing technology in most LCA categories. In contrast, the membrane bioreactor combined with integrated fixed film activated sludge shows worse performance, largely due to its high energy consumption. Regarding carbon neutrality, operating constructed wetlands requires approximately 0.79 ha of cropland to offset greenhouse gas emissions. This is significantly lower than the estimated 16.7–566 ha needed for non-nature-based solutions, which are not designed for carbon captureElsevierUniversidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Ambientais (CRETUS)Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química20262026-01-1920262026-01-19journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/10347/45279reponame:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostelainstname:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:minerva.usc.gal:10347/452792026-06-15T12:47:27Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
title Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
spellingShingle Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
Feijoo Moreira, Helena
Wastewater
Life Cycle Assessment
Irrigation
Carbon capture
Water neutrality
330810 Tecnología de aguas residuales
330806 Regeneración del agua
330811 Control de la contaminación del agua
title_short Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
title_full Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
title_fullStr Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
title_full_unstemmed Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
title_sort Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Feijoo Moreira, Helena
Estévez Rivadulla, Sofía
González García, Sara
Moreira Vilar, María Teresa
author Feijoo Moreira, Helena
author_facet Feijoo Moreira, Helena
Estévez Rivadulla, Sofía
González García, Sara
Moreira Vilar, María Teresa
author_role author
author2 Estévez Rivadulla, Sofía
González García, Sara
Moreira Vilar, María Teresa
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Ambientais (CRETUS)
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Wastewater
Life Cycle Assessment
Irrigation
Carbon capture
Water neutrality
330810 Tecnología de aguas residuales
330806 Regeneración del agua
330811 Control de la contaminación del agua
topic Wastewater
Life Cycle Assessment
Irrigation
Carbon capture
Water neutrality
330810 Tecnología de aguas residuales
330806 Regeneración del agua
330811 Control de la contaminación del agua
description Water reuse has become a promising strategy to address water scarcity and reduce pressure on natural water resources, particularly for irrigation practices. However, the implementation of water reuse for irrigation requires careful planning to address potential challenges, such as water quality concerns, public acceptance and the environmental impacts of treatment processes. To support informed decision-making, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) serves as a powerful tool for evaluating the environmental implications of different water reuse strategies. This study presents a comparative analysis of several biological treatment systems across different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, including membrane bioreactors, filtration systems, constructed wetlands, and advanced oxidation processes. In addition to assessing the environmental performance of these technologies, this research work also links the LCA outcomes with the concepts of water and carbon neutrality in wastewater treatment plants. The results indicate that, among the four processes, only one achieves a positive water balance: the bio-filter system, which is also the best performing technology in most LCA categories. In contrast, the membrane bioreactor combined with integrated fixed film activated sludge shows worse performance, largely due to its high energy consumption. Regarding carbon neutrality, operating constructed wetlands requires approximately 0.79 ha of cropland to offset greenhouse gas emissions. This is significantly lower than the estimated 16.7–566 ha needed for non-nature-based solutions, which are not designed for carbon capture
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026-01-19
2026
2026-01-19
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10347/45279
url https://hdl.handle.net/10347/45279
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
instname:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
instname_str Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
reponame_str Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
collection Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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