Opportunities for improvement in a potabilization plant based on cleaner production: Experimental and theoretical investigations

Cleaner Production (CP) has been studied mainly in the productive sector, ignoring that in drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) a better environmental performance can be achieved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the processes in a DWTP in order to improve production, reduce environmental impact and generate economic savings, for which a cleaner production plan was implementing. The methodology recommended by UNIDO was used. Three CP opportunities were evaluated and identified. After, each CP opportunity, a technical, environmental and economic feasibility analysis was carried out. The results indicated that by implementing the first opportunity of CP (Good housekeeping), it will save water by reducing the number of filter washes by 29400 m³/year, without any investment, so the gains will be immediate. With the second chance of CP, a water-saving of 23256 m³/year will be achieved by recirculating the water from the filters to the decanters. The investment is small, and the recovery period will be 2.4 months. The third CP option, which is based on the coagulant change, would have an annual financial savings of 5361.12 USD, with an immediate payback period. The results showed that the CP applications proposed in this study can significantly reduce water consumption in a WDTP, being able to be implemented in the short and medium-term, without large investments, allowing to address water scarcity today and in the future.