Selection of Water Supply Schemes for Groundwater Defluorination by Electroflocculation in Dispersed Residential Areas
Fluoride pollution poses a serious threat to public health worldwide, particularly in dispersed residential areas where high-fluoride groundwater is the primary drinking water source. Electroflocculation-based defluorination is a preferable treatment option, but its environmental and economic impacts vary with the water supply scheme. This study established three schemes: centralized undifferentiated (S1), centralized differentiated (S2), and distributed differentiated (S3). Life cycle environmental impact and life cycle cost assessments were conducted. Results show that S1 has the largest negative environmental impact, with indicators ranging from 1.4 to 6.7 times those of S2 or S3, primarily due to electrode consumption and electricity usage. S3 exhibits the lowest water supply cost, achieving a 62% cost reduction compared to S1. The distributed differentiated scheme (S3) offers both lower life cycle environmental impact and the lowest life cycle cost, making it the most advantageous option for dispersed residential areas. This study provides a systematic basis for selecting optimal water supply schemes, promoting the practical application of electroflocculation defluorination in such regions.