Abstract

This research utilized Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)within SimaPro 9 software to evaluate the potentialenvironmental burdens: global warming, eutrophication,acidification, and ozone layer depletion of three DecentralizedWastewater Treatment Systems (DWWTS) in Jordan over theentire period of its life cycle of construction and operationphases. The obtained laboratory test results showed thatFeynan (M1) has the best performance regarding treatmentefficiency, where the treated effluent parameters TN, TP, COD,and BOD were the lowest compared to Jerash (M2) andSMART (M3). On the other hand, the overall outcomes showthat M3 and M2 are approximately 25% and 50%, respectively,compared to M1 contribution in burdens. Construction ofwetlands has the highest contribution to most of theenvironmental burdens of the three plants. It was found thatcement production is the key factor causing environmentalburdens resulting from the construction of these plants.Whereas concrete blocks, reinforcing steel, and PVC pipes haveless contribution. LCA is approved as a supportive investigationof the environmental burdens of such plants that guidedecision-makers in developing new strategies to achievesustainability.