Skip to main content

Applications of Life-Cycle Cost Analysis in Water and Wastewater Projects: Lessons from European Experience

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Governing the Nexus

Abstract

Experiences of applying the life cycle costing concept for designing and implementing water and wastewater projects in Europe indicates, that LCC is suitable to support strategic planning decisions. The entire life cycle approach helps to implement more integrated thinking in settlement and infrastructure planning. The contribution describes current challenges of the water sector in Europe such as demographic change or climate change, gives a short introduction in LCC as part of the concept of life cycle management and presents various cases of planning tasks in the water sector for Germany and Europe. Based on this political economy, considerations are done in applications of LCC for strategic planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In finance, discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis is a method of valuing a project, company or asset using the concepts of the time value of money. All future cash flows are estimated and discounted to give their present values (PVs). The sum of all future cash flows, both incoming and outgoing, is the net present value (NPV), which is taken as the value or price of the cash flows in question. Present values may also be expressed as a number of years the purchase of the future undiscounted annual cash flow is expected to arise (Wikipedia 2014).

References

  • Ambrose, M., Burn, S., DeSilva, D. & Rahilly, M. (2009). Life cycle analysis of water networks. Study Report. Retrieved January 14, 2014, from http://www.pepipe.org/uploads/pdfs/Life_Cycle_Cost_Study.pdf.

  • Burchell, R. W., et al. (1998). The cost of sprawl—revisited. TCRP-Report. Washington DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burr, P. & Fonseca, C. (2013). Applying a life-cycle costs approach to water. Costs and service levels in rural and small town areas in Andhra Pradesh (India), Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mozambique. International Water and Sanitation Centre; WASHCost (Working Paper, 8).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson-Kanyama, A., Dreborg, K. H., Moll, H. C., & Padovan, D. (2008). Participative backcasting: A tool for involving stakeholders in local sustainability planning. Futures, 40(1), 34–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • City of Düsseldorf: Capital preservation concept for the municipal drainage system (Substanzerhaltungs-konzept des Stadtentwässerungsbetriebs). IX/11-.5. Retrieved December 13, 2013, from http://www.duesseldorf.de.

  • Damodaran, A. (1996). Investment valuation: Tools and techniques for determining the value of any asset. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Gussem, K., Wambecq, T., Roels, J., Fenu, A., de Gueldre, G., & van de Steene, B. (2011). Cost optimisation and minimisation of the environmental impact through life cycle analysis of the waste water treatment plant of Bree (Belgium). Water Science and Technology, 63(1), 164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall. (2008). Benchmarking in water supply and waste water disposal (Benchmarking in der Wasserversorgung und Abwasserbeseitigung). DWA-Rules/Code of Practice, DWA-M1100. Hennef.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall. (2012). Guidelines for dynamic comparative cost methods (Leitlinien zur Durchführung dynamischer Kostenvergleichsrechnungen). 8th edn. Hennef.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Environmental Agency. (2012). European waters—current status and future challenges. Synthesis (EEA Report, 9/2012).

    Google Scholar 

  • European Environmental Agency. (2013). Environmental indicator report. Kopenhagen: Natural resources and human well-being in a green economy.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Parliament; European Council. (2000). Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Water Framework Directive. Official Journal of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union. (2012). Confronting scarcity. Managing water, energy and land for inclusive and sustainable growth. Luxembourg: EUR-OP (European report on development).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat. (2013a). Population connected to public water supply. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=env_wat_pop&lang=en. Population connected to waste water treatment (primary to tertiary). Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=ten00020&plugin=0.

  • Eurostat. (2013b). Regional population projections, relative population change, by NUTS2 regions, between 2008 and 2030. Retrieved December 13, 2013, from http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/gisco_Geographical_information_maps/maps_posters/PER_POPSOC/pop_projection.

  • Fonseca, C., Dubé, A. & Verhoeven, J. (2011). Cost-based decision support tools for water and sanitation. WASHCost: International Water and Sanitation Centre (Working Paper, 4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Herz, R. (1996). Ageing processes and rehabilitation needs of drinking water distribution networks. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology—Aqua, 45, 221–231.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herz, R. K., & Lipkow, A. (2002). Life cycle assessment of water mains and sewers. Water Supply, 2(4), 51–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horngren, C. T. (2013). Introduction to management accounting. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall PTR.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Standardization Organization. (2008). ISO 15686-5, 10.06.2008: Buildings and constructed assets—Service-life planning—Part 5: Life-cycle costing. Geneva: ISO.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Water and Sanitation Centre. (2011). Life-cycle costs approach. Costing sustainable services (Briefing Note, 1a). The Hague: IRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Water and Sanitation Centre. (2012). Calculating the life-cycle costs of water. The Hague: IRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayaram, N. & Srinivasan, K. (2008): Performance-based optimal design and rehabilitation of water distribution networks using life cycle costing. Water Resources Research, 44 (1), S. n/a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kropp, I., & Baur, R. (2005). Integrated failure forecasting model for the strategic rehabilitation planning process. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 5(20), 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makropoulos, C et al. (2013). Best practices for sustainable urban water cycle systems. An overview of and enabling and constraining factors for a transition to sustainable UWCSs. Project Report. TRUST. Athen (D11.1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Molinos-Senante, M., Hernández-Sancho, F., & Sala-Garrido, R. (2012). Economic feasibility study for new technological alternatives in wastewater treatment processes: A review. Water Science and Technology, 65(5), 898–906.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novotny, V. (2013). Water–energy nexus: retrofitting urban areas to achieve zero pollution. Building Research and Information, 41(5), 589–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rebitzer, G., & Hunkeler, D. (2003). Life cycle costing in LCM: Ambitions, opportunities, and limitations. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 8(5), 253–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, V. R. (2014). Life-cycle cost approach (LCCA) for infrastructure project planning reforms. A conceptual overview. Life-cycle cost assessment of infrastructure projects. Nexus Observatory Workshop. 18–19 December 2013, New Delhi: UNU-FLORES.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, V. R., & Batchelor, C. (2012). Cost of providing sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services: An initial assessment of a life-cycle cost approach (LCCA) in rural Andhra Pradesh, India. Water Policy, 14(3), 409–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, V. R., Jayakumar, N., Venkataswamy, M., Snehalatha, M., & Batchelor, C. (2012). Life-cycle costs approach (LCCA) for sustainable water service delivery: A study in rural Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 02, 279–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft (SMUL). (2004). Investments in waste water systems in rural areas. Decision-making on the example of Putzkau, part of the municipality Schmölln-Putzkau (Abwasserinvestitionen im ländlichen Raum. Entscheidungsfindung am Beispiel des Ortsteils Putzkau der Gemeinde Schmölln-Putzkau). Dresden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, G. & Siedentop, S. (2005). Infrastructure-costs of settlement development under conditions of shrinkage. DISP, 41 (1(160)), 83–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, G. (2007). Demographic change and infrastructural costs—A calculation tool for regional planning. SUE-MoT Conference 2007—Proceedings, Glasgow.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, G. (2010). Cost evaluation of the adaptation of waste water treatment systems under shrinkage (Kostenbewertung der Anpassung zentraler Abwasserentsorgungssysteme bei Bevölkerungsrückgang). IÖR Schriften, Band 51. Berlin: Rhombos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siedentop, S. & Fina, S. (2008). Urban sprawl beyond growth, 44th. ISCOCARP Congress 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siedentop, S., Schiller, G., Koziol, M., Walther, J. & Gutsche, J.-M. (2006). Settlement development and infrastructural follow-up costs—balancing and development of strategies (Siedlungsentwicklung und Infrastrukturfolgekosten—Bilanzierung und Strategieentwicklung). BBR-Online-Publication No. 3/2006, Bonn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slagstad, H., & Brattebø, H. (2014). Life cycle assessment of the water and wastewater system in Trondheim, Norway—A case study. Urban Water Journal, 11(4), 323–334.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, H.-W. (2006). Quick guide cost accounting. Step by step towards cost transparency and controlling. (Schnelleinstieg Kostenrechnung. Schritt für Schritt zur Kostentransparenz und –steuerung). Haufe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Termes-Rifé, M., Molinos-Senante, M., Hernández-Sancho, F., & Sala-Garrido, R. (2013). Life cycle costing: A tool to manage the urban water cycle. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-AQUA, 62(7), 468–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulmschneider, M. (2004). Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—an overview of established concepts and their application on the example of waste water pumping stations (Life Cycle Costing (LCC) und Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—eine Ãœbersicht bestehender Konzepte und deren Anwendung am Beispiel von Abwasserpumpstationen). Dresden (Dresdner Beiträge zur Lehre der Betrieblichen Umweltökonomie, Nr. 16/2004).

    Google Scholar 

  • UN Water: UN World Water Development Report (2012) Managing water under uncertainty and risk. Volume 1. Retrieved December 13, 2013, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr4-2012/.

  • United Nations Environment Programme; Society of Environmental Technology and Chemistry. (2007). Life cycle management. Paris: A business guide to sustainability.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban Drainage Dresden. (2014). From energy waster to energy producer (Vom Energiefresser zum Energieproduzenten). Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.stadtentwaesserung-dresden.de/innovation-umwelt/energie-21/.

  • Vergragt, P. J., & Quist, J. (2011). Backcasting for sustainability: Introduction to the special issue. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 78(5), 747–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wikipedia. (2014). Discounted cash flow. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discounted_cash_flow.

  • Wöhe, G., & Döring, U. (2013). Introduction to general business administration (Einführung in die Allgemeine Betriebswirtschaftslehre) (25th ed.). Munich: Vahlen, Franz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, H., Christensen, T. H., & Scheutz, C. (2013). Life cycle assessment of sewage sludge management: A review. Waste Management and Research, 31(11), 1083–1101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georg Schiller .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schiller, G., Dirlich, S. (2015). Applications of Life-Cycle Cost Analysis in Water and Wastewater Projects: Lessons from European Experience. In: Kurian, M., Ardakanian, R. (eds) Governing the Nexus. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05747-7_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics