Environmental Assessment of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach: Case of Ain Taoujdate Morocco

A life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out to evaluate the environmental impact of a wastewater treatment plant (natural lagoon) located in Ain-Taoujdate city in Morocco. ReCiPe midpoint 2014 (H) method was used to assess the impact using ACV4E software. The study aims to analyze the ecological footprint of the plant, by identifying and comparing between the different phases of the life cycle.Construction and operation phases were assessed, only the decommissioning phase was not included. The LCA results of Ain Taoujdate WWTP showed discharges and emissions phase had a considerable impact on the first scenario, then the second scenario which was carried out as a fictitious aerated lagoon plant showed the operation phase wish has electricity as main source, was predominated over the other impacts. This shows that the last scenario would be suitable, if renewable energies are used as an alternative source, since aerated lagoons are known for their high purification performance compared to natural lagoon.