Technology evaluation and impact assessment of innovative wastewater treatment and resource recovery systems in Kanpur, India

Abstract

Resource recovery from wastewater treatment plants is crucial for India's circular economy, as emphasized by the national draft water reuse norms 2024. This study evaluated resource recovery technologies using circularity and sustainability assessment methods to inform technology selection. A multiple-criteria decision analysis compared three innovative and two reference treatment trains in Kanpur, India, based on treatment performance, costs, and resource recovery potential. Quantitative microbial risk and life cycle assessments further evaluated health and environmental benefits and burdens. Innovative systems, such as Andicos (ultrafiltration + co-digestion) and SFD-MBR (slow-forming dynamic membrane bioreactor) had slightly lower performance indices (ΔPI: 0.10–0.12) than the reference system MBR due to lower nutrient removal. The innovative systems generated 1.3 to 2 times more revenue from selling water, nutrients, and energy. Further, reusing nutrient-rich treated effluents for irrigation reduced eutrophication potential by 94%. Treatment trains with constructed wetland plus (CW+) achieved the highest faecal coliform (FC) removal, meeting reuse norms of <5 MPN/100 mL, potentially preventing up to 2,600 gastrointestinal infections annually among 4,000 farmers using the water for irrigation. This study highlights the potential environmental, health, and economic benefits of innovative wastewater treatment technologies for advancing resource recovery in India.