Carbon Footprint Assessment for Pumps Within the Lifecycle

Pumps, as critical equipment in water supply and drainage systems, contribute significantly to energy use and carbon emissions throughout their life cycle. This study quantified the life-cycle carbon footprint (LCF) of water supply and drainage pumps by developing a life-cycle assessment (LCA)-based model covering raw material acquisition, production and processing, transportation, operation, and recycling. Using the 400S-40 single-stage double-suction centrifugal pump as a case, the results showed that: (1) the total LCF of the pump was 5567.56 t CO2e per unit; and (2) the operational stage accounted for 99.69% of the total life-cycle emissions. The findings indicate that, for the studied case, use-phase electricity consumption dominates the overall carbon footprint under the stated assumptions. Accordingly, for water utilities and pump users, improving operating efficiency and reducing avoidable electricity consumption are critical to carbon reduction. For pump manufacturers, enhancing processing technology, adopting low-carbon materials, improving durability, and promoting component-level maintenance and replacement can reduce embodied carbon and avoid unnecessary emissions associated with premature full-unit replacement. Beyond carbon reduction, these measures are also conducive to resource conservation, sustainable manufacturing, and the low-carbon transition of urban water infrastructure. Therefore, this study provides methodological support for the green design, operation, and management of pump equipment, and contributes to the sustainable development of water supply and drainage systems.