wcm.02.2025.269.275

A tubewell integrated with filtration treatment system (TWFTS) is proposed for construction at a bamboo plantation in Johor, Malaysia. TWFTS will be used to provide groundwater supply for irrigation. However, the environmental impacts of the TWFTS construction are unknown. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the life cycle impact assessment of the proposed project. The objectives of this study are (i) to assess the environment impacts of proposed TWFTS using life cycle assessment and (ii) to identify environmental hotspots, opportunities for improvement, and provide recommendations for sustainable practices of TWFTS. The OpenLCA software, along with the Industrial Design & Engineering Materials database (IDEMAT) and Environmental Footprint 3.0 (EF 3.0), was used to assess the environmental impacts of the TWFTS, which consists of three phases: tubewell installation, construction of protection frame, and construction of filtration treatment system. A cradle-to-gate analysis was applied, evaluating the impacts from raw material extraction to the completion of construction. The results showed that the acidification, climate change, human toxicity (cancer), ozone depletion, and particulate matter emissions of the TWFTS were 8.5696 mol H⁺ eq, 3721.9861 kg CO₂ eq, 9.44 x 10-7 CTUh, 1.275 x 10-5 kg CFC-11 eq, and 1.01 x 10-4 disease inc., respectively, with the construction of filtration treatment system is the primary contributor. The study also revealed that the fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) tank, stainless steel, water pump, and poly tank are the main contributors to these environmental impacts due to their manufacturing processes. Moreover, the findings indicated that replacing the FRP tank with a poly tank can significantly reduce environmental impacts, with reductions ranging from 7.16% to 65.21%. The largest reduction (65.21%) was observed in climate change impact, primarily due to the significant greenhouse gas emissions associated with FRP manufacturing. Ultimately, this study provides a comprehensive analysis to guide the project authority toward more sustainable construction practices.