Integrated Greywater Management Systems: A Design Proposal for Efficient and Decentralised Greywater Sewage Treatment

The aim of this paper is to explore the design possibility for improvising our approach to treating greywater sewage in the context of depleting water resources and emerging conurbations at regional levels of development. A gate-to-gate Life-cycle assessment (LCA) study focussing on use-phase was undertaken to analyse the flow characteristics and specific-energy consumption of a Membrane Bio-reactor (MBR) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Moreover, a morphological analysis of existing STPs was attempted, and the possibility of proposing an alternative system for sewage treatment via technological solutions, along with a business-oriented intervention was explored at the entity and regional levels. In conclusion, a model for MBR-based compact and decentralised greywater sewage treatment, at the urban policy level seems necessary in attempting to maximize the STP's potential for self-sustaining efficiency, and therefore leading to smarter management of existing water resources. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.