Selection of factors affecting integrated municipal wastewater treatment and reuse network: an interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach

Abstract

It is widely recognized that the utilization of treated municipal wastewater can alleviate the problem of water scarcity and boost the existing water supply in a country. However, the existing wastewater treatment and reuse scenarios are not adequately connected, leading to the release of treated effluent into the river system. This study was conducted for identification of the critical factors that can influence the feasibility of implementing an integrated municipal wastewater treatment and reuse (IMWTR) network and establish interrelationships between them. Firstly, by literature review, 22 potential factors were identified, out of which 12 key influencing factors were distilled by compiling responses of experts from the field of environmental engineering. Secondly, using interpretive structural modelling, an eight-level hierarchical structure was formed for establishing interrelationships between the identified factors. Thirdly, the identified key factors' driving power and dependence power were used to classify the factors into four groups, namely autonomous, linkage, dependent, and driving factors, using the Matrix of Cross Impact—Multiplications Applied to Classification analysis. Finally, strategies were suggested for environmentally sustainable and economically feasible implementation of an IMWTR network. In this paper, it was observed that social acceptance of reclaimed water and the definition of proper policies, and their regulation play the most crucial role in the implementation of an IMWTR network. This research is beneficial for the decision-makers to prioritize the critical factors affecting the IMWTR network and help formulate a roadmap for implementing an efficient system. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.