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  • A review of nature-based so...
    Boano, Fulvio; Caruso, Alice; Costamagna, Elisa; Ridolfi, Luca; Fiore, Silvia; Demichelis, Francesca; Galvão, Ana; Pisoeiro, Joana; Rizzo, Anacleto; Masi, Fabio

    Science of the total environment, 04/2020, Volume: 711
    Journal Article

    Display omitted •Nature-based solutions (NBS) are a viable option for greywater (GW) treatment.•Review of case studies provided numerical thresholds for hydraulic design of NBS.•Life cycle assessment studies demonstrated the benefits of NBS for GW treatment. Recognizing greywater as a relevant secondary source of water and nutrients represents an important chance for the sustainable management of water resource. In the last two decades, many studies analysed the environmental, economic, and energetic benefits of the reuse of greywater treated by nature-based solutions (NBS). This work reviews existing case studies of traditional constructed wetlands and new integrated technologies (e.g., green roofs and green walls) for greywater treatment and reuse, with a specific focus on their treatment performance as a function of hydraulic operating parameters. The aim of this work is to understand if the application of NBS can represent a valid alternative to conventional treatment technologies, providing quantitative indications for their design. Specifically, indications concerning threshold values of hydraulic design parameters to guarantee high removal performance are suggested. Finally, the existing literature on life cycle analysis of NBS for greywater treatment has been examined, confirming the provided environmental benefits.