Collective Versus Household Iron Removal from Groundwater at Villages in Lithuania

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) provides a framework to integrate high environmental standards for water quality and sustainable water resource management. Hydro-geological conditions typical for southwest part of Lithuania determine high concentrations of iron in the groundwater. Untreated groundwater is commonly used for every day needs by local inhabitants living in a villages (water consumption <100 m³/day). Seasonal measurements indicated high variations of total iron concentrations in groundwater. The detected annual concentration of total iron in the water wells was 3.3 mg/L. The concentrations of total iron in the tap water were some 40 % lower compared to those in the groundwater. Iron removal from the ground drinking water yields advantages with the comfort of consumers; however, it entails environmental impacts and additional costs. A comparative analysis of collective and individual household iron removal systems for the selected village has been performed to estimate possible environmental impacts and costs. For assessment of costs and environmental impacts, authors applied input–output analysis. The chosen technique for collective iron removal was non-reagent method implying oxidation of contaminants in the drinking water and their containment in the filters. For individual households, reverse osmosis filtration method was selected. The environmental benefits of using central iron removal system result in formation of almost 70 % less of solid waste, 13 % less of wastewater, and 97 % less consumption of electric energy compared to the individual iron removal facility at each household. Estimated overall cost, including purchase, installation, and operational costs, for central iron removal system is 390 Euro/year per household, the respective cost for individual household iron removal facility—1,335 Euro/year. The analysis revealed that central iron removal system has advantages in comparison with iron removal facilities at each individual household.