Comparative life cycle assessment for the manufacture of bio-detergents.

The increasing consumption of cleaning products deteriorates water resources due to harmful components such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) compounds, oils, bleach, and acids, typical compounds in traditional detergents. The use of biodegradable detergents as an environmentally friendly alternative has been proposed in different regions. In Colombia, resolution 1770/2018 sets a minimum biodegradability rate of 60% for the surfactants present in liquid detergents, which would reduce to a similar extent the impacts on water after their use. However, the environmental impacts of the supply chain of these detergents and their raw materials have not been evaluated so far. This study presents an environmental life cycle assessment of petroleum-based liquid detergents and a comparison to traditional solid detergents, based on the ISO 14040 standard and the ReCiPe-2016 impacts assessment method. A novel bio-detergent containing anionic plant-based surfactants was proposed in this analysis. The impacts of packaging and the distribution of the product to consumers were also considered. Raw materials contributed to 91% of the total of 314 g of CO2 eq generated per liter of liquid detergent, where the production of fatty alcohol sulfate and PET packaging shared 78.8% and 12.2% of the total impact, respectively. It was also determined that 5.4 L of water are consumed and 0.09 g of P eq and 0.1 g of N eq are emitted per liter of detergent. This liquid detergent presented better environmental performance than traditional detergents in all the impact categories, except for the fossil resource scarcity category. The evaluated detergent would significantly mitigate the generation of negative effects on ecosystems. Moreover, the substitution of PET for HDPE packaging could reduce the impacts on freshwater eutrophication by 10%, although the carbon footprint can slightly increase, which could be compensated due to its higher recyclability rate. In contrast, the proposed bio-detergent would not have significant benefits and would negatively affect water consumption and land use in its supply chain.

Comprehensive Water Footprint of a University Campus in Colombia: Impact of Wastewater Treatment Modeling.

Protection of water resources implies the responsible consumption, and the return of this resource with the best physicochemical conditions. In organizations, water is consumed both directly in their facilities and indirectly in the products or services acquired for their operation, requiring a water accounting based on the life cycle perspective. This study aims to assess the comprehensive water footprint of the main campus of the Technological University of Pereira (Colombia), based on the ISO 14046:2014 standard, and analyze the influence of wastewater treatment. Impacts on water scarcity were evaluated using the AWARE method, while the impacts on human health and ecosystems were evaluated using the ReCiPe method. Specific modeling of the wastewater treatment plants on campus was conducted. A total of 102,670 m3.y-1 of water scarcity was accounted for. Water consumption per person was 17.8 m3 of which 86.2% corresponded to indirect activities. Similarly, indirect activities were responsible for more than 98% of the impacts on human health and ecosystems, where more than 95% were due to infrastructure construction and 2% due to electricity consumption. Although the wastewater treatment on campus reduced the impact on ecosystems by 14%, if a tertiary treatment was added, these impacts would have a 40% of additional reduction. Efforts in recycling programs were also quantified in 712 m3 of avoided water scarcity for secondary users. The findings suggest focusing actions on sustainable construction and purchases to improve water management in organizations.

Effects of feedback information on the household consumption of water and electricity: A case study in Colombia.

Cities are the point of concentration for most of the current environmental problems, due to their fast growth and their dependence on ecosystems beyond urban limits. Changes in cities and cultural patterns that shape modern life have accelerated the metabolism of cities and consequently have negatively impacted the environment. Different approaches have been explored to understand and manage this situation. In this sense, various studies have been developed regarding the impacts of feedback information on water and electricity consumption in order to determine and understand ways to manage domestic demand. This paper presents the results obtained through the execution of an experiment on the effects of feedback information on water and electricity consumption at the household scale. During the study, participating households were exposed to different types of information, including their own consumption, comparisons with their neighbors and saving tips. The results obtained show that feedback information has a significant but differentiated effect on water and electricity consumption, and that the way in which feedback information is perceived is different in both flows.

Estimación de la demanda de agua en centros educativos: caso de estudio facultad de ciencias ambientales de la universidad tecnológica de pereira, colombia / Water demand estimation in education centers: a case study in environmental science faculty of technological university of pereira, colombia

La gestión del agua en centros educativos debe partir de la identificación y cuantificación de la demanda de agua según los diferentes usos existentes en la institución. En este artículo se presenta la caracterización de la demanda de agua en la Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, identificando los usuarios y sus hábitos de consumo, con el propósito de generar procesos de comprensión y herramientas de gestión que permitan iniciar programas en torno al uso eficiente del agua. En primer lugar, se identificaron los elementos que conforman el sistema de abastecimiento de agua potable en el edificio y se clasificaron los usuarios del agua. Bajo técnicas de observación, diálogo con los usuarios y la instalación de medidores volumétricos de media pulgada R-160, se midieron los consumos de cada uno de los usuarios. A partir de esta información, se determinó la demanda del centro educativo, así como la demanda de agua para cada uno de los usos. Finalmente, se calcularon indicadores de demanda y se propone un modelo matemático para el cálculo del consumo de agua en centros educativos.

Water management in educational centers involves identifying and quantifying water demand for different uses given in those institutions. This paper presents the characterization of water demand in the Environmental Sciences Faculty, Technological University of Pereira, identifying users and their habits, in order to generate understanding processes and management tools that allow starting programs related to water efficiency. First, the project identified the elements of the water supply system in the building and the different water uses were classified. Under observation techniques, dialogue with users and installing a half inch volumetric meters R-160, were measured water consumption of each user. From this information it was determined the consumption and demand for each use in the faculty. Finally, demand indicators were calculated and it was proposed a mathematical model for the calculation of water consumption in an educative center.

Urban rainwater runoff quantity and quality - A potential endogenous resource in cities?

Rainwater harvesting might help to achieve self-sufficiency, but it must comply with health standards. We studied the runoff quantity and quality harvested from seven urban surfaces in a university campus in Barcelona according to their use (pedestrian or motorized mobility) and materials (concrete, asphalt and slabs). An experimental rainwater harvesting system was used to collect the runoff resulting from a set of rainfall events. We estimated the runoff coefficient and initial abstraction of each surface and analyzed the physicochemical and microbiological properties, and hydrocarbon and metal content of the samples. Rainfall intensity, surface material and state of conservation were essential parameters. Because of low rainfall intensity and surface degradation, the runoff coefficient was variable, with a minimum of 0.41. Concrete had the best quality, whereas weathering and particulate matter deposition led to worse quality in asphalt areas. Physicochemical runoff quality was outstanding when compared to superficial and underground water. Microorganisms were identified in the samples (>1 CFU/100 mL) and treatment is required to meet human consumption standards. Motorized traffic mostly affects the presence of metals such as zinc (31.7 µg/L). In the future, sustainable mobility patterns might result in improved rainwater quality standards.

EVALUACIÓN DE LA GOBERNANZA AMBIENTAL LOCAL EN RISARALDA / EVALUATION OF LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN RISARALDA

La gobernanza ambiental se orienta a la armonización de procesos relacionados con la gestión del ambiente, a través de la participación activa e integrada de los actores públicos y privados. Objetivo: Valorar la gobernanza ambiental en 12 municipios de Risaralda. Método: Se formuló un modelo bajo el enfoque de investigación holística, usando como referentes los informes de auditoría a la gestión ambiental local elaborados por la Contraloría de Risaralda. Resultados: El estudio arrojó un índice de apropiación del 61,4% para el año 2003, incrementado en 6,1 puntos una década después. El 75% de los municipios mejoraron su indicador, sin embargo ninguno obtuvo un registro efectivo (80-100%), contrario al ámbito político y legal de competencia fundado en un esquema de gestión participativa. Conclusión: El fortalecimiento de la gobernanza debe fundarse en un proceso pedagógico que motive la participación, así como en un acuerdo para su práctica en el gobierno local, bajo la premisa que una gobernanza suficiente y consistente fortalece la gobernabilidad, mejora la confianza social, incrementa la efectividad de la gestión ambiental y posibilita la sustentabilidad del ambiente en la órbita del desarrollo territorial.

Environmental governance is oriented to harmonize processes related to environmental management through the active and comprehensive participation of public and private stakeholders. Objective: To assess the environmental governance in 12 municipalities in Risaralda. Method: A model using the comprehensive research approach was developed using as referents the data of audit reports to the local environmental management developed by the Comptrollership of Risaralda. Results: The research found an index of ownership of 61.4% in 2003, increasing 6.1 points a decade later. A 75% of the municipalities improved their indicator, however, none of them had an effective register (80-100%), contrary to the political and legal field of competence based on a participative management scheme. Conclusion: Governance strengthening must be based on a pedagogic process that encourages participation, as well as an arrangement for its practice in the local government, under the premise that sufficient and consistent governance strengthens governability, improves social trust, and enables environmental sustainability in the zone of influence of territorial development.

Análisis de flujos de agua en áreas metropolitanas desde la perspectiva del metabolismo urbano / Analysis of water flows in metropolitan areas from the urban metabolism perspective

Las áreas urbanas demandan flujos intensos de agua para su funcionamiento. El análisis de su estado es mejor entendido a partir de estudios metabólicos que permiten analizar los flujos de agua que entran y salen del sistema urbano. Objetivo: Cuantificar los flujos de agua del Área Metropolitana Centro Occidente (Colombia), determinando la magnitud de sus demandas y el grado de exigencia de la ciudad sobre el recurso agua. Método: Se utilizó como herramienta metodológica el análisis de flujos de materiales para cuantificar los flujos de entrada, intermedios y de salida del sistema urbano. Resultados: En el área de estudio, el 86% del agua es abastecida por el río Otún como principal fuente local y el 14% restante es abastecido de fuentes hídricas externas. El agua derivada anualmente para el abastecimiento urbano de sus 599.618 habitantes alcanzó los 31,2 MMC/año, es decir 113 l/hab/día. Con relación a los flujos de salida se destaca cómo las aguas residuales se vierten directamente a las fuentes hídricas sin ningún tipo de tratamiento previo. El balance de materia determinó un flujo volumétrico de agua para el año 2011 de 155,2 MMC/año que entran y salen de la región metropolitana. Conclusión: En el Área Metropolitana Centro Occidente la gestión del recurso hídrico obedece a un proceso lineal (captación, distribución, consumo y vertimientos) generando desechos no tratados que son reintroducidos al ciclo ecosistémico. La demanda y el consumo de agua tienen una tendencia decreciente en oposición al crecimiento poblacional, indicando un mejor uso racional del recurso o una estrategia de adaptación al costo del servicio público.

Urban areas require intense water flows in order to operate. The analysis of the state of such water flows is better understood from metabolic studies that allow analyzing water flows entering and leaving the urban system. Objective: Quantify water flows of the Colombian Central-Western Metropolitan Área, determining the extent of its demands and the strictness of the city on water resources. Method: The material flow analysis was used as methodological tool to quantify the urban system inflows, intermediate flows and output flows. Results: In the area studied, 86% of the water is supplied by the Otún river as the main local source and the remaining 14% is supplied by external water sources. The water diverted annually for the urban supply of its 599.618 inhabitants consumption reached 31.2 MMC/year that is 113 l/person/day. Regarding outflows it is important to highlight that wastewater is discharged directly into water sources without any pre-treatment. The material balance determined a volumetric water flow for 2011 of 155.2 MCM/year that enters and leaves the metropolitan region. Conclusion: In the Central-Western Metropolitan Área water resource management follows a linear process (collection, distribution, consumption and discharges) generating untreated waste streams that are reintroduced into the ecosystem cycle. The demand and consumption of water have a decreasing trend in opposition to population growth, indicating better rational use of resources or an adaptation strategy to the public service cost.

Financial and environmental modelling of water hardness--implications for utilising harvested rainwater in washing machines.

A study was conducted to determine the financial and environmental effects of water quality on rainwater harvesting systems. The potential for replacing tap water used in washing machines with rainwater was studied, and then analysis presented in this paper is valid for applications that include washing machines where tap water hardness may be important. A wide range of weather conditions, such as rainfall (284-1,794 mm/year); water hardness (14-315 mg/L CaCO3); tap water prices (0.85-2.65 Euros/m(3)) in different Spanish urban areas (from individual buildings to whole neighbourhoods); and other scenarios (including materials and water storage capacity) were analysed. Rainfall was essential for rainwater harvesting, but the tap water prices and the water hardness were the main factors for consideration in the financial and the environmental analyses, respectively. The local tap water hardness and prices can cause greater financial and environmental impacts than the type of material used for the water storage tank or the volume of the tank. The use of rainwater as a substitute for hard water in washing machines favours financial analysis. Although tap water hardness significantly affects the financial analysis, the greatest effect was found in the environmental analysis. When hard tap water needed to be replaced, it was found that a water price of 1 Euro/m(3) could render the use of rainwater financially feasible when using large-scale rainwater harvesting systems. When the water hardness was greater than 300 mg/L CaCO3, a financial analysis revealed that an net present value greater than 270 Euros/dwelling could be obtained at the neighbourhood scale, and there could be a reduction in the Global Warming Potential (100 years) ranging between 35 and 101 kg CO2 eq./dwelling/year.

Contaminación vehicular en la conurbación pereira-dosquebradas / Vehicle fuel and sound contamination in the pereira-dosquebradas conubaation

Se realizó un estudio sobre la contaminación ambiental por ruido y emisiones de material particulado PM10 asociado a fuentes móviles en la conurbación Pereira-Dosquebradas. Objetivo: Analizar la relación salud con el ruido ambiental y el PM10 asociado al flujo vehicular. Metodología: Se realizaron mediciones de flujo vehicular y ruido ambiental en tres sitios de interés por congestión vehicular. Adicionalmente, se reunió información de estaciones de calidad del aire disponibles en la zona de estudio y población con enfermedad respiratoria aguda (ERA). A partir de estos datos, se desarrollaron modelos para estimar el ruido ambiental a partir de condiciones del flujo vehicular y se proponen dos modelos de simulación reuniendo características de la dinámica de crecimiento poblacional, flujo vehicular y posibles emisiones de material particulado, para estimar el efecto potencial sobre la salud y los costos inducidos asociados a la contaminación. Resultados: En los sitios estudiados, se encontró que el flujo vehicular y el ruido ambiental son estadísticamente mayores en horas pico de la tarde (5 pm a 7 pm). El mayor flujo vehicular se encontró en el sector de la avenida sur de Pereira con un promedio de 2693 veh-Eq/h. Adicionalmente, se pudo estimar que los costos ambientales asociados a la contaminación atmosférica (PM10) podrán llegar a ser del orden del 2% del presupuesto para el municipio de Pereira. Conclusión: El ruido ambiental está correlacionado con el flujo vehicular. El ruido ambiental generado principalmente por efecto del flujo vehicular puede llegar a superar los límites permitidos en la norma nacional para sitios cerca de hospitales. De acuerdo con los modelos de simulación desarrollados, si las condiciones de crecimiento del parque automotor circulante continúan a igual ritmo, en menos de ocho años los efectos de las concentraciones elevadas de material particulado causarán un efecto evidente sobre la morbilidad por enfermedad respiratoria aguda y en los costos ambientales estimados.

A study on noise contamination and particle pollution of PM10 associated with mobile sources in the Pereira-Dosquebradas conurbation was carried out. Objective: To analyze the relationship between health, environmental noise and PM10 due to vehicular flow. Methodology: Measurements of environmental noise and vehicular flow in three sites of interest by traffic congestion were carried out. Additionally, information from air quality stations available in the study area and population with acute respiratory disease (ARD) was collected. From these data, models to estimate the environmental noise from traffic flow conditions were developed and two simulation models using dynamic characteristics of population growth, traffic flow and potential emissions of particulate matter are proposed in order to estimate the potential effect on health and associated induced costs associated with pollution. Results: In the sites studied, it was found that the flow of traffic and environmental noise are statistically higher in the afternoon peak hour (5 pm to 7 pm). The higher traffic flow was found in the sector of Avenida Sur in Pereira with an average of 2,693 veh-Eq/h. Furthermore, from the simulation models, it was found that the environmental costs associated with air pollution (PM10) may become around 2% of the budget for the municipality of Pereira. Conclusion: Environmental noise is correlated with traffic flow. Environmental noise is generated mainly by the effect of traffic flow and it may exceed the limits established in the national standard for sites near hospitals. According to the simulation models developed, if the growth conditions of the vehicle fleet continue in the same tendency, in less than eight years the effects of high concentrations of particulate matter will cause a significant effect on morbidity due to acute respiratory disease and a higher estimated environmental cost.

Roof selection for rainwater harvesting: quantity and quality assessments in Spain.

Roofs are the first candidates for rainwater harvesting in urban areas. This research integrates quantitative and qualitative data of rooftop stormwater runoff in an urban Mediterranean-weather environment. The objective of this paper is to provide criteria for the roof selection in order to maximise the availability and quality of rainwater. Four roofs have been selected and monitored over a period of 2 years (2008-2010): three sloping roofs - clay tiles, metal sheet and polycarbonate plastic - and one flat gravel roof. The authors offer a model for the estimation of the runoff volume and the initial abstraction of each roof, and assess the physicochemical contamination of roof runoff. Great differences in the runoff coefficient (RC) are observed, depending mostly on the slope and the roughness of the roof. Thus, sloping smooth roofs (RC>0.90) may harvest up to about 50% more rainwater than flat rough roofs (RC=0.62). Physicochemical runoff quality appears to be generally better than the average quality found in the literature review (conductivity: 85.0 ± 10.0 µS/cm, total suspended solids: 5.98 ± 0.95 mg/L, total organic carbon: 11.6 ± 1.7 mg/L, pH: 7.59 ± 0.07 upH). However, statistically significant differences are found between sloping and flat rough roofs for some parameters (conductivity, total organic carbon, total carbonates system and ammonium), with the former presenting better quality in all parameters (except for ammonium). The results have an important significance for local governments and urban planners in the (re)design of buildings and cities from the perspective of sustainable rainwater management. The inclusion of criteria related to the roof's slope and roughness in city planning may be useful to promote rainwater as an alternative water supply while preventing flooding and water scarcity.