Water Footprint in paddy rice systems. Its determination in the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos,Argentina

In the context of social responsibility and, of the directives aimed at an integral management of natural resources, the Water Footprint (WF) has been widely spread as an indicator that contributes to a safe and sustainable use of water. The purpose of this study was to determine the WF for rice production (WF_R) in two rice-growing areas in Argentina: central-east Entre Ríos and Santa Fe. The calculation was made using the methodology proposed in The Water Footprint Assessment Manual, according to which the WF of a crop, in this case rice, represents the relation between the amount of water satisfying the evapotranspiration demand (CWU) and the field productivity. The WF has three components: green (WFgreen), associated with rain used by the crop (CWUgreen); blue (WFblue), related to underground or surface water that fulfils the evapotranspiration demand (CWUblue); and grey (WFgrey), related to the volume of water required to dilute the residues of pollutants generated from the crop production. To estimate the CWUblue and CWUgreen, a rice water balance model (RWM), specifically developed for continuous flooding irrigation, was applied. Based on daily data of precipitation, crop evapotranspiration and soil variables the model allows calculating gross irrigation depth, surface runoff due to precipitations, variation of water stored in the soil, and deep percolation. Four agricultural seasons were assessed: 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012, and 2012/2013. In Entre Ríos, WF was 987 m³ ton⁻¹ (44% WFgreen and 56% WFblue), whereas in Santa Fe it was 846 m³ ton⁻¹ (36% WFgreen and 64% WFblue). In accordance with related work in the region, WFgrey was not considered. Although only CWU is part of the WF calculation, the other components of the water balance are necessary for rice production. The RWM model determined the consumptive use of the crop and distinguished blue water from green water, besides calculating the other parameters of the water balance. This made possible to show the inefficiencies in the system since precipitations are not fully used. The WF_R, together with these components, is useful to make comparisons between different regions and it is a tool to promote water saving, provided that it is complemented with specific policies, such as the differential application of irrigation taxes or electric power rates.     

The Sociedad Minera Pudahuel bacterial thin-layer leaching process at Lo Aguirre

The thin-layer leaching process originally conceived and developed for leaching oxide ores has been successfully adapted to bacterial leaching of mixed and secondary sulphide ores. The process is currently being applied at the Socicdad Minera Pudahuel Lo Aguirre Plant. About 3000 ton of ore per day are being processed to produce 14000 ton of high-grade copper cathodes per year, in a closed circuit integrated with SX-EW. Changes in the soluble copper grade of the ore from about 1.8C4 to (I.6% have occurred during the last years, which have been compensated by an equivalent increase in the insoluble copper grade. In addition, ore from satellite ore bodies has resulted in acid consumption variations ranging from 611 to 120 kg H₂SO₄ per ton of ore. The main sulphide mineralogical species are chatcocite and bornite, with small amounts of chalcopyrite and covellite. An intensive research program in columns and large-scale heaps has been carried out to define the operating conditions which assure adequate bacterial growth and bacterial activity towards the sulphides. Agglomerated ores with 1.7 2.5% Cur and (I.3-0.6%: Cus, with the insoluble copper mainly present as chalcocite bornite, were leached at a flow rate of 0.2 1 min¹ mu² with a SX-Raffinate solution containing (in g^-1) 5–10 H₂SO₄, 2–4 Fe_T, 1–3 Fe⁺³, 0.5 Cu, as well as impurities resulting from a closed circuit operation. Copper recoveries of 75 85% Cu_T were obtained after 180–250 days of total leaching time, depending on the copper grade, the mineralogical composition, and the acid consumption of the ore. Important bacterial activity was detected. About 10 ³−10⁵ bacteria ml⁻¹ were measured in effluent solutions. Iron oxidation rates of 7–100μg Fe²⁺ h⁻¹ g⁻¹, measured from respirometric tests on agglomerated ore, suggest that an adsorbed biomass of about 10⁷-10⁸ bacteria g⁻¹ must also be present. Further applications of the bacterial thin-layer leaching process to Cerro Colorado and Qucbrada Blanca ores in North Chile are being studied.     

Leaching of copper ore of the Udokanskoe deposit at low temperatures by an association of acidophilic chemolithotrophic microorganisms

Pure cultures of indigenous microorganisms Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain TFUd, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans strain LUd, and Sulfobacillus thermotolerans strain SUd have been isolated from the oxidation zone of sulfide copper ore of the Udokanskoe deposit. Regimes of bacterial-chemical leaching of ore have been studied over a temperature range from −10 to +20°C. Effects of pH, temperature, and the presence of microorganisms on the extraction of copper have been shown. Bacterial leaching has been detected only at positive values of temperature, and has been much more active at +20 than at +4°C. The process of leaching was more active when the ore contained more hydrophilic and oxidized minerals. The possibility of copper ore leaching of the Udokanskoe deposit using sulfuric acid with pH 0.4 at negative values of temperature and applying acidophilic chemolithotrophic microorganisms at positive values of temperature and low pH values was shown.     

我国几种典型棉纺织产品的工业水足迹评价

产品水足迹评价能够揭示人类活动在产品全生命周期中的水资源综合影响,可以为提高水资源利用与管理水平和引导绿色消费提供重要的科学依据和技术手段,是当前水资源评价与管理领域的热点研究方向。纺织品是日常生活最主要的消费品之一,其工业生产过程需要利用大量的水资源,同时排放出的工业废水还会对周围水环境造成严重影响。为了揭示纺织品生产过程的水资源综合影响,运用工业水足迹的概念与原理,探讨和明确了纺织品工业水足迹评价的系统边界与内容,建立了相应的核算方法,并选择了花灰布、漂白布、染色布、色织布等四种典型棉纺织产品进行了工业水足迹评价。结果显示,漂白布的工业水足迹较小为36.51L/lb,花灰布次之为37.84L/lb,染色布的平均工业水足迹为61.52L/lb,色织布水足迹最大,平均值为81.51L/lb。比较同种类型、不同颜色纺织品的工业水足迹,由大到小依次为深色中色浅色,即颜色越深对水资源的影响程度最大。从水足迹构成来看,棉纺织产品的工业水足迹主要来自于直接工业水足迹,间接工业水足迹占比较小;在直接工业水足迹的构成中,蓝水足迹的贡献较大。     

The water footprint of the EU for different diets

In this paper, the EU28 (EU27 and Croatia) water footprint of consumption (WF_cons) for different diets is analysed: the current diet (REF, period 1996–2005), a healthy diet (DGE), a vegetarian (VEG) and combined (COM) diet. By far the largest fraction of the total WF_cons (4815 lcd) relates to the consumption of edible agricultural goods (84%). The average EU28 diet is characterised by a too high energy intake and a too high ratio of animal to vegetal protein intake. For a healthy diet, the intake of some product groups should be reduced (sugar, crop oils, meat and animal fats) and of other product groups increased (vegetables and fruit). Especially the consumption of animal products accounts for high WF amounts. The three alternative diets result in a substantial reduction (−974 lcd or −23% for DGE, −1292 lcd or −30% for COM, −1611 lcd or −38% for VEG) of the WF_cons for agricultural products with respect to the existing situation (REF, 4265 lcd). The reduction in meat intake contributes most to the WF reduction. Each of the specific WF components (green, blue and grey) shows a reduction similar to the observed reduction in the total WF_cons. Regarding the total WF_cons (green, blue and grey WF_cons) as well as the WF_cons without the grey WF component (green + blue WF_cons) for agricultural products, the EU28 shifts from net virtual water (VW) importer for the REF and DGE diets to net exporter for the COM and VEG diets.     

华北平原冬小麦-夏玉米生产灰水足迹及其县域尺度变化特征

华北平原是种植冬小麦和夏玉米的主要区域,农民为达高产而过量使用化肥对该区造成了严重的面源污染。"有河皆干,有水皆污"已经成为华北平原水资源与水环境现状的概语。灰水足迹理论与方法的提出为定量评价农业生产对水环境的影响提供了一条新的思路。因此,基于精细的县域尺度农业基础数据,运用灰水足迹评价方法,分析了华北平原1986—2010年的冬小麦-夏玉米灰水足迹及其时空变异特征。结果表明:华北平原冬小麦和夏玉米产品灰水足迹分别为0.55—2.97m3/kg和0.50—2.02m3/kg,均为美国、德国等地区的2—10倍;河北衡水、保定等地区灰水足迹较低,渤海湾等地区灰水足迹较高;冬小麦和夏玉米25a总灰水体积为2.67×1010—5.84×1010m3,平均值为3.90×1010m3,总体表现为随时间变化呈波动上升趋势。建议在华北平原要注意严格控制施肥量、提高肥效,积极推广测土配方施肥、缓释肥等养分资源管理技术,积极发展利用沼液、有机肥等化肥替代技术;要控制肥料地表流失和地下淋失,大力发展冬小麦-夏玉米轮作条件下的机械化喷灌、滴灌、微喷带等灌溉系统条件下的水肥一体化技术,全面实施秸秆、地膜等覆盖技术减少农田土壤流失以及深松等耕作技术实现土壤水库的增容扩蓄。     

Alterations in surfaces and textures of minerals during the bacterial leaching of a complex sulfide ore

Abstract

The purpose of the work was to characterize changes in surface textures of minerals during the biological leaching of a complex sulfide ore. The ore contained pyrrhotite (Fe_I__xS), pyrite (FeS₂), sphalerite (ZnS), pentlandite [(Ni,Fe,Co)₉S₈], and chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂). Several mixed cultures were initially screened using the ore material as the sole substrate. Shake flask leaching experiments showed no major differences among test cultures, which were all derived by enrichment techniques using environmental samples collected from a mine site. Leached pyrrhotite surfaces were invariably surrounded by a dark rim of elemental S. A reaction zone was also associated with leached sphalerite grains. Chemical analyses of leach solutions indicated that the relative ranking of biological leaching of the sulfide minerals was Zn > Ni > Co > Cu. Microscopic observations were in keeping with this rankin     

基于投入产出表的中国水足迹走势分析

水足迹是近年来国内外研究水资源压力的常用方法.基于投入产出表的水足迹分析方法,分析了我国1997-2007年的水足迹状况,改进了耗水系数的计算方法,研究了基于稀释理论的灰水足迹计算方法,计算了外部水足迹及额外水足迹负重以及相应系数,分析了我国水足迹消费的商品(服务)结构.结果表明,1997-2007年我国年均水足迹总量为2.83万亿m3,总体呈现下降趋势,其中蓝水足迹为2183亿m3,灰水足迹为2.62万亿m3(以Ⅲ类水标准核算).在水足迹总量中,间接水足迹占据比例达到90％,可见水资源压力的产生主要基于商品或服务的消费.我国水足迹基本上依靠自给,同时我国承担其他国家的水资源压力的比例很大,但是整体上呈现下降趋势.从水足迹消费商品(服务)结构上看,与饮食相关的商品或服务占较大比例.     

Divalent metal addition restores sulfide-inhibited N2O reduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) inhibits the last step of the denitrification process, i.e. the reduction of nitrous oxide (N₂O) to dinitrogen gas (N₂), both in natural environments (marine sediments) and industrial processes (activated sludge, methanogenic sludge, BioDeNOx process). In a previously published study, we showed that the inhibitory effect of sulfide to N₂O reduction in mixed microbial communities is reversible and can be counteracted by dosing trace amounts of copper. It remained, however, unclear if this was due to copper sulfide precipitation or a retrofitting of the copper containing N₂O-reductase (N₂OR). The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of the restoration of sulfide-inhibited N₂O reducing activity by metal addition to a pure Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture. This was done by using other metals (zinc, cobalt and iron) in comparison with copper. Zinc and cobalt clearly alleviated the sulfide inhibition of N₂OR to the same extent as copper and the activity restoration was extremely fast (within 15 min, Fig. 3) for zinc, cobalt and copper. This suggests that the alleviation of the inhibitory effect of sulfide is due to metal sulfide precipitation and thus not exclusively limited to Cu. This work also underlines the importance of metal speciation: supply of iron did not restore the N₂OR activity because it was precipitated by the phosphates present in the medium and thus could not precipitate the sulfide.     

Microbial leaching of zinc concentrate in fresh‐water microcosms: Comparison between aerobic and oxygen‐limited conditions

Microbially mediated leaching and solubilization of zinc ore concentrate by native aquatic microbial communities incubated under aerobic and oxygen‐limited conditions were examined in static microcosms consisting of stream sediment and water. Sterile controls provided information on abiotic sulfide oxidation and leaching of zinc, lead, cadmium, and copper. The flux of these heavy metals from the sediments to the water column was greatest under biotic oxygen‐limited conditions. When calculated as the percentage of total metal available in zinc concentrate‐amended microcosms, the order of metal solubilization under oxygen‐limited conditions was lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium. Under biotic aerobic conditions, the order of solubilization was zinc, lead, cadmium, and copper. This study indicates that aquatic heterotrophs are capable of leaching and solubilizing metallic sulfides under conditions of neutral to slightly acidic pH and are effective in releasing heavy metals to the water column under oxygen‐limited conditions.     

Effect of anions on selective solubilization of zinc and copper in bacterial leaching of sulfide ores

Bacterial leaching of sulfide ores using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, or a combination of the two was studied at various concentrations of specific anions. Selective zinc and copper solubilization was obtained by inhibiting iron oxidation without affecting sulfur/sulfide oxidation. Phosphate reduced iron solubilization from a pyrite (FeS(2))-sphalerite (ZnS) mixture without significantly affecting zinc solubilization. Copper leaching from a chalcopyrite (CuFeS(2))-sphalerite mixture was stimulated by phosphate, whereas chloride accelerated zinc extraction. In a complex sulfide ore containing pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite, both phosphate and chloride reduced iron solubilization and increased copper extraction, whereas only chloride stimulated zinc extraction. Maximum leaching obtained was 100% zinc and 50% copper. Time-course studies of copper and zinc solubilization suggest the possibility of selective metal recovery following treatment with specific anions.     

A review on the indicator water footprint for the EU28

The water footprint (WF) is an indicator that accounts for both the direct (domestic water use) and indirect (water required to produce industrial and agricultural products) water use of a consumer or producer. This paper makes a review on the WF indicator and its applicability for EU28 (EU27 and Croatia) policy. More particularly the volumetric WF assessment approach of the Water Footprint Network (WFN) is reviewed. A synthesis of existing national WF accounting quantities results in an EU28 WF of production (WF_prod) of 3420 lcd (609 km³/yr) and a WF of consumption (WF_cons) of 4815 lcd (857 km³/yr). Of the latter 60% is internal and 40% is external to Europe. The EU28 is a net virtual water importer. The WF of agricultural products contributes by far the largest fraction of the total WF, i.e. 91% of the total WF_prod and 89% of the WF_cons. With traditional water use statistics, awareness campaigns and policy have always focused on increasing water efficiency in domestic and industrial water use. However, much more water can be saved in agricultural production processes, by reducing food waste and by a change in diet of the average EU consumer. Together with a comprehensive overview on possible ways to reduce WF, this paper provides a critical review on the WF methodology, showing that the development of the WF concept is still not complete. Practical complexities with data (availability of and inconsistencies in the underlying databases) are a concern. Some conceptual aspects need to be further developed and tested, not at least the indicators for sustainability assessment. The most important limitation is the fact that it is a partial tool to be used in combination with other analytical means or indicators when determining integrated policy options. Nevertheless, its main strength is the possibility to show the importance of consumption patterns and global dimensions in water governance.     

黄土高原冬小麦地N2O排放

从2007年7月1日到2009年6月30日对黄土高原冬小麦地氧化亚氮(N₂O)排放采用静态箱气相色谱法进行了为期2a 的监测。设置2个处理,有小麦田(有小麦生长),无小麦田(出芽初期拔去麦苗)。研究结果表明有小麦田、无小麦田N₂O排放量年际变化不大。有小麦田年均的N₂O 排放量为2.05 kg · N₂O · hm^-2 · a^-1,无小麦田年均的N₂O 排放量为2.28 kg · N₂O · hm^-2 · a^-1 。在冻融交替期,施肥后、翻地后和降雨后无小麦田和有小麦田N₂O排放明显增加,N₂O的季节变化受到这些短期事件的显著影响;有小麦田N₂O排放与地温(P<0.01),气温(P<0.01)和WFPS(P<0.05)显著相关,而无小麦田N₂O排放与这些环境土壤因子都不相关;有小麦田和无小麦田两个处理土壤的WFPS通常都低于60%,可以推断在本地区,硝化反应是N₂O的重要生成源。     

The Effect of the Facultative Chemolithotrophic Bacterium Thiobacillus acidophilus on the Leaching of Low-Grade Cu-Ni Sulfide Ore by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of Thiobacillus acidophilus on the leaching of a low-grade Cu-Ni sulfide ore by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. A sample of low-grade Cu-Ni sulfide ore containing 0.36% Cu, 0.48% Ni, and 7.87% Fe was pulverized and initially leached for a 21-day period using two different pure cultures of T. ferrooxidans, an environmental strain (F2) and a strain from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 23270). Samples of the ore slurries were drawn and the pH was monitored over the course of the leaching period. The concentrations of Cu and Ni leached by each strain were determined and compared. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of Cu and Ni leached by the two pure cultures of T. ferrooxidans. Subsequently, the ore was leached with mixed cultures of T. ferrooxidans and T. acidophilus to determine the effect of the latter on the concentrations of Cu and Ni leached from the ore. The environmental strain F2 of T. ferrooxidans was used in combination with both a type strain (ATCC 27807) and an environmental strain (64) of T. acidophilus. After 21 days, the mixed cultures of T. ferrooxidans and T. acidophilus leached significantly greater amounts of copper than the pure strain alone, but no such difference was observed for the leaching of nickel.     

Oxidation of gold-antimony ores by a thermoacidophilic microbial consortium

Antimony leaching from sulfide ore samples by an experimental consortium of thermoacidophilic microorganisms, including Sulfobacillus, Leptospirillum, and Ferroplasma strains was studied. The ores differed significantly in the content of the major metal sulfides (%): Sb_S, 0.84 to 29.95; Fe_S, 0.47 to 2.5, and As_S, 0.01 to 0.4. Independent of the Sb_S concentration in the experimental sample, after adaptation to a specific ore and pulp compaction, the microorganisms grew actively and leached/oxidized all gold-antimony ores at 39 ± 1°C. The lower was the content of iron and arsenic sulfides, the higher was antimony leaching. For the first time the investigations conducted with the use of X-ray microanalysis made it possible to conclude that, in a natural high-antimony ore, Sb inhibits growth of only a part of the cell population and that Ca, Fe, and Sb may compete for the binding centers of the cell.     

Microbiological Leaching of Metallic Sulfides

The percentage of chalcopyrite leached in percolators by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was dependent on the surface area of the ore but not on the amount. Typical examples of ore leaching, which demonstrate the role of the bacteria, are presented. In stationary fermentations, changes in KH(2)PO(4) concentration above or below 0.1% decreased copper leaching as did reduction in the MgSO(4).7H(2)O and increase in the (NH(4))(2)SO(4) concentration. Bacterial leaching of chalcopyrite was more effective than nonbiological leaching with ferric sulfate; ferric sulfate appeared to retard biological leaching, but this effect was likely caused by formation of an insoluble copper-iron complex. Ferrous sulfate and sodium chloride singly accentuated both bacterial and nonbiological leaching of chalcocite but jointly depressed bacterial action. Sodium chloride appeared to block bacterial iron oxidation without interfering with sulfide oxidation. Bacterial leaching of millerite, bornite, and chalcocite was greatest at pH 2.5. The economics of leaching a number of British Columbia ore bodies was discussed.     

The role of bacteria in copper mining operations

The results of our survey of several mining operations have shown in every instance typical T. ferrooxidans bacteria to be present in the leaching solutions. The numbers of bacteria found are in general what, one would expect considering the chemical reactions occurring in these processes. A major difficulty is encountered when one considers the complex and unknown series of events which occur, as the bacteria-bearing, acidic, ferric-ion solution penetrates the massive ore dumps. Laboratory studies show microbial activity to be the major cause of rapid solubilization of copper sulfide ores. Field studies suggest that microbial activity cannot explain all observations in a typical leaching operation.     

Life Cycle Water Use of Ford Focus Gasoline and Ford Focus Electric Vehicles

Literature data for vehicle life cycle water consumption are limited and contradictory; there are no published estimates of vehicle life cycle water withdrawal. To place future discussions of sustainable mobility on a firmer technical basis, we report the results of a cradle‐to‐grave assessment of water withdrawal and water consumption for the gasoline internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) variants of the 2012 Ford Focus. U.S. average life cycle water withdrawal and consumption of 531 and 131 cubic meters (m³), respectively, for a lifetime driving distance of 160,000 miles are estimated for the Focus ICEV using E10 gasoline. Employing our upper bound of water use in oil refinery operations and corn and ethanol production increases the life cycle withdrawal and consumption to 1,570 and 761 m³, respectively. The U.S. average life cycle water withdrawal for the Focus BEV is 3,770 m³ (7 times that for the ICEV, reflecting the large volume of cooling water required during electricity generation), whereas the water consumption is 170 m³ (comparable to that for the ICEV). Vehicle use is the most significant phase of the life cycle with fuel production, accounting for 49% of water withdrawal and 82% of water consumption for the ICEV. For the BEV, fuel (electricity) production accounts for 92% of life cycle water withdrawal and 85% of consumption. The results highlight the importance of renewable and sustainable fuels and increased vehicle energy efficiency in providing sustainable mobility.     

Effect of particle-particle shearing on the bioleaching of sulfide minerals

The biological leaching of sulfide minerals, used for the production of gold, copper, zinc, cobalt, and other metals, is very often carried out in slurry bioreactors, where the shearing between sulfide particles is intensive. In order to be able to improve the efficiency of the bioleaching, it is of significant importance to know the effect of particle shearing on the rate of leaching. The recently proposed concept of ore immobilization allowed us to study the effect of particle shearing on the rate of sulfide (pyrite) leaching by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Using this concept, we designed two very similar bioreactors, the main difference between which was the presence and absence of particle-particle shearing. It was shown that when the oxygen mass transfer was not the rate-limiting step, the rate of bioleaching in the frictionless bioreactor was 2.5 times higher than that in a bioreactor with particle friction (shearing). The concentration of free suspended cells in the frictionless bioreactor was by orders of magnitude lower than that in the frictional bioreactor, which showed that particle friction strongly reduces the microbial attachment to sulfide surface, which, in turn, reduces the rate of bioleaching. Surprisingly, it was found that formation of a layer of insoluble iron salts on the surface of sulfide particles is much slower under shearless conditions than in the presence of particle-particle shearing. This was explained by the effect of particle friction on liquid-solid mass transfer rate. The results of this study show that reduction of the particle friction during bioleaching of sulfide minerals can bring important advantages not only by increasing significantly the bioleaching rate, but also by increasing the rate of gas-liquid oxygen mass transfer, reducing the formation of iron precipitates and reducing the energy consumption. One of the efficient methods for reduction of particle friction is ore immobilization in a porous matrix.     

Life Cycle Assessment of Advanced Industrial Wastewater Treatment Within an Urban Environment

A dissolved air flotation (DAF) system upgrade was proposed for an urban paper mill to recycle effluent. To understand the influence of operating variables on the environmental impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water consumption, a dynamic supply chain model was linked with life cycle assessment (LCA) to produce an environmental inventory. Water is a critical natural resource, and understanding the environmental impacts of recycling water is paramount in continued development of sustainable supply chains involving water. The methodology used in this study bridged the gap between detailed process models and static LCA modeling so that operating variables beyond discrete scenario analysis could be investigated without creating unnecessarily complex models. The model performed well in evaluating environmental impacts. It was found that there was no single optimum operating regime for all environmental impacts. For a mill discharging 80 cubic meters of effluent per hour (m³/hour), GHGs could be minimized with a DAF capacity of 17.5 m³/hour, while water consumption could be minimized with a DAF capacity of 25 m³/hour, which allowed insight into where environmental trade‐offs would occur. The study shows that more complexity can be achieved in supply chain modeling without requiring a full technical model. It also illustrates the need to consider multiple environmental impacts and highlights the trade‐off of GHG emissions with water consumption in water recycling. The supply chain model used in this water treatment case study was able to identify the environmental trade‐offs from the operating variables selected.