Environmental assessment of low-carbon water management and recycling on university campuses: a global perspective
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-6771-2025-151-2-270-293Keywords:
low-carbon water management, wastewater recycling, environmental assessment, sustainable water resources, university campusAbstract
Universities worldwide face increasing water scarcity and are turning to innovative, low-carbon strategies to manage their water resources. This study provides a global environmental assessment of low-carbon water management and recycling on university campuses by synthesizing 28 case studies from 12 countries. Data collected include treatment technologies (biological, membrane, physicochemical, and hybrid systems), quality indicators (BOD, TSS, TDS), reuse rates, and economic parameters (capital costs and payback periods). Descriptive statistics reveal an average campus recycling rate of 57 % (median 33 %), with biological processes achieving up to 95 % removal of organic pollutants (BOD) but often requiring tertiary treatment to reduce dissolved solids (TDS). Capital expenditures ranged from USD 15 000 to USD 157 000, yielding payback periods of 3–6.5 years. A SWOT analysis highlights key barriers - insufficient TDS removal, regulatory gaps, and social resistance - and opportunities such as growing ESG financing, educational outreach, and autonomous system development. The findings underscore the pivotal role of university campuses as living laboratories for sustainable water strategies, demonstrating that campus-scale recycling contributes to SDG 6 (“Clean Water and Sanitation”) but requires standardized life-cycle assessments and adaptation to local regulatory and climatic contexts. This review underscores the need for robust life-cycle assessments and carbon accounting.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Akhmet Ramazan, Samal Syrlybekkyzy, Lyailim Taizhanova, Yevgeniy Muralev, Ye. Pangaliyev (Author)
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