Cost-Benefit Analysis and Environmental Impact of Water Management - A Case study on the West Link Railway project
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Design and construction project management (MPDCM), MSc
Publicerad
2024
Författare
Hadi, Farid
Nuur, Abdullahi
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
This report examines the treatment efficiency of excess water and the socio-economic implications of managing this water during the construction of the West Link railway project in Gothenburg, Sweden. Approximately 130,000 cubic meters of excess water require annual treatment at the 'Centralen' site of the West Link project. Data from the Swedish Transportation Administration (STA) collected between 2018 and 2023 on water quality before and after treatment, and the associated costs were analysed. Findings show that the treatment plants achieve an average pollutant removal efficiency of 73%. However, variations in pollutant concentrations in the influent water, and the impact of maintenance practices underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and optimization of the treatment methods. This is essential to ensure high removal efficiency and that the effluent water complies with environmental standards. While the total mass of pollutants released annually, such as suspended solids, oil, arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, total chromium and chromium VI, nickel, mercury, zinc, and pH give a small contribution to the Göta river compared to background levels, local releases from the construction site could still impact the nearby ecosystem and accumulate in organisms. Thus, stringent environmental protection measures remain necessary. A Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) was conducted, revealing that although the STA incurred substantial costs for the water treatment facility, there are significant public health and environmental benefits. In conclusion, the report emphasises the importance of effective water treatment to meet environmental regulations, mitigate ecological and health risks, and promote sustainable construction practices.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Treatment efficiency , Excess water , West Link Railway Project , Environmental standards , Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) , Sustainable construction practices