Abstract:
The construction industry is increasingly under pressure to improve environmental
performance and reduce environmental degradation, which often results from carbon
emissions and a high volume of waste generated from unprecedented levels of
development associated with urbanisation and industrialisation. Construction projects
consume a significant amount of water at the same time; they generate liquid waste (LW)
from several wet processes during construction on-site, which is often unmetered. At the
same time, LW or wastewater generated from construction projects is detrimental to the
environment and human health, adversely polluting the surface and groundwater as well
as the ground soil. It is, therefore, indispensable to manage LW appropriately while
utilising the water efficiently. Limited studies have paid attention to explore the
importance of effective liquid waste management (LWM) practices in construction
projects and their implications on environmental sustainability. This study aimed to
investigate the current practices of LWM in construction projects through the analysis
of expert user views and quantitative data analysis while providing an account of LWM
related legislative requirements. Moreover, this study estimated the average volume of
water consumed for tool washing and water saving for different types of projects and
compared it against the use of sustainable LWM systems, notably a closed-loop washout
system employed in construction projects. The outcome of this study has the potential to
add new and under-measured factors to the current LWM systems and to promote
sustainable LWM practices in construction projects. While it highlights issues related to
LWM, it provides criteria that can be considered for the green rating of buildings.
