{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,19]],"date-time":"2026-01-19T22:53:46Z","timestamp":1768863226202,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]],"date-time":"2026-01-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768608000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia","award":["UIDB\/00681\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00681\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Processes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Increasing global water scarcity has intensified the adoption of water reuse as a sustainable strategy, particularly in regions affected by drought and pressure on natural resources. This paper presents a systematic review of the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in water reuse projects, focusing on research trends, methodological approaches, and opportunities for improvement. A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published from 2020 onwards using combinations of the keywords \u201clife cycle assessment\u201d, \u201cLCA\u201d, \u201cwater reuse\u201d, \u201cwater recycling\u201d, and \u201cwastewater recycling\u201d. Twelve studies were selected from 57 records identified, based on predefined eligibility criteria requiring quantitative LCA of water reuse systems. The results reveal a predominance of European research, reflecting regulatory advances and strong academic engagement in this field. The most frequently assessed impact categories were global warming, eutrophication, human toxicity and ecotoxicity, highlighting the environmental relevance of reuse systems. Energy consumption and water transport were identified as critical hotspots, especially in scenarios involving long distances and fossil-based energy sources. Nevertheless, most studies demonstrate that water reuse is environmentally viable, particularly when renewable energy and optimized logistics are applied. The review also emphasizes the need to better integrate economic and social dimensions and to adapt LCA methodologies to local conditions. Overall, the findings confirm LCA as a robust decision-support tool for sustainable planning and management of water reuse systems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pr14020330","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,19]],"date-time":"2026-01-19T09:57:02Z","timestamp":1768816622000},"page":"330","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Assessing Water Reuse Through Life Cycle Assessment: A Systematic Review of Recent Trends, Impacts, and Sustainability Challenges"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-6904-0716","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lenise","family":"Santos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Technology and Management School, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Av. Cor. Jos\u00e9 Maria Vale de Andrade, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2252-381X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel","family":"Br\u00e1s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CISeD\u2014Research Centre in Digital Services and Department of Environment, Technology and Management School, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Av. Cor. Jos\u00e9 Maria Vale de Andrade, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-5424-2929","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Barreto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Technology and Management School, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Av. Cor. Jos\u00e9 Maria Vale de Andrade, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-9290-2686","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miguel","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IT Department, Technology and Management School, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Av. Cor. Jos\u00e9 Maria Vale de Andrade, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5686-9192","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ant\u00f3nio","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS) and Agrarian School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7596-8065","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society-CERNAS-IPV and Technology and Management School, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Av. Cor. Jos\u00e9 Maria Vale de Andrade, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"FAO (2025, July 30). Livestock and Environment Statistics: Manure and GHG Emissions. 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