Indirect benefits of P2 technical assistance estimated using fuzzy set theory
Abstract Twenty small-to-medium sized business clients who had been previously provided pollution prevention (P2) technical assistance were studied to account for four difficult to quantify indirect benefits. The difficult to quantify benefits studied were reduced operational costs, regulatory burden, future liabilities and time saved from the research or technical assistance provided. Many (70%) clients who implemented new technologies realized operating cost reductions. Frequently (70%) clients who implemented P2 suggestions that reduce the disposal of hazardous waste realized reductions in regulatory burden and future liabilities. Most (90%) clients perceived that the research assistance saved their staff time. On average, clients in this study realized indirect savings of similar magnitude to their direct savings regardless of the scale or type of assistance. This study illustrates the value realized by a business of indirect benefits from pollution prevention implementation, which is particularly important now that publicly traded U.S. companies must disclosure financially significant environmental liabilities.
Evaluation of Nitrate Treatment Methods Under Uncertainty
There are several methods of removing nitrate from drinking water with varying degrees of cost and system perfonnance. In this study, the cost-effectiveness of the following nitrate removal options were compared for a small Nebraska town: reverse osmosis, ion exchange (standard and nitrate selective resins), bio-denitrification, and ion exchange with bio-denitrification of the recycled brine. A fuzzy-set theory based multiple criteria ranking procedure was used to determine which treatment method would remove the most nitrate for the least cost. The fuzzy methodology accounts for uncertainty in the input data by allowing ranges of values to be entered. The procedure uses fuzzy distance measures to rank the different management options based on the output data. The technique is flexible because the preferences of the decision maker can be incorporated into the analysis.
EVALUATION AND COSTS OF METHODS TO ELIMINATE ION EXCHANGE WASTE BRINE DISCHARGES FROM NITRATE TREATMENT PLANTS
INTRODUCTION The use and disposal o f b r i n e regenerant i s a major c o s t and concern i n the operation o f an i o n exchange p l a n t designed f o r removing n i t r a t e from a contaminated water supply. This paper r e p o r t s on a study d i r e c t e d a t minimizing s a l t use and t h e waste b r i n e production. Methods o f t r e a t i n g the waste b r i n e t o render i t more e a s i l y disposable or t o render i t reusable were studied. given t h e most a t t e n t i o n because i t appeared t o be the most r e a d i l y adaptable t o b r i n e treatment and r e c y c l i n g o f t h e waste. Experiments were conducted on t h i s and other process t o assess t e c h n i c a l f e a s i b i l i t y. Costs were also developed f o r a system t o t r e a t and r e c y c l e t h e waste b r i n e from a one MGD i o n exchange n i t r a t e treatment p l a n t. This i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s continuing w i t h t h e operation o f a p i l o t p l a n t t o study the combination i o n exchange/brine d e n i t r i f i c a t i o n process. The r e s u l t s w i l l be reported a t e l a t e r date. OBJECTIVE The o b j e c t i v e of t h i s study was t o develop a method o f t r e a t i n g t h e …