Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Water Supply Systems for Slum Area in Indonesia
Farhan I. W. Rohmat12, D. E. Irawan3, D. Rohmat4, Faizal I. W. Rohmat5*

1School of Life Science and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
2Agro-industrial Technology Education, Faculty of Technology And Vocational Education, Indonesia University of Education
3Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
4Faculty of Social Sciences Education, Indonesian University of Education, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia
5Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

Abstract

The amount of surface water and groundwater in slum areas in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, is very abundant. However, its quality does not meet the requirements as a source of clean water, and it causes the community to depend on the provision of clean water by the government (Municipal Water Supply, MWS) through a monopoly company. Drinking water supply areas or independently collecting rainwater (Rainwater Harvesting, RWH). In this case, water supply through MWS and RWH systems is considered a promising and sustainable alternative to be implemented in slum areas. The resulting environmental and health impacts are unknown at each stage of the clean water production process through these two systems. This study aims to compare the environmental and health impacts related to the production of clean water through the MWS and RWH systems to help make decisions on the development of water supply relevant to environmental and health issues. Eleven life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) indicators have been assessed using a functional unit of 1 m3 of clean water (non-potable). Our results show that RWH outperforms MWS on all environmental and health impact indicators. RWH is also considered easier to implement in slum areas and can be chosen as an alternative to the water supply that needs to be a priority for further development. The RWH model used in this study can be used in other slum areas locally in Indonesia and globally in various parts of the world with the same characteristics.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment, Municipal Water Supply, Rainwater Harvesting, Slum Area

Topic: Interdisciplinary Geosciences