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Managing infiltration and inflow into wastewater systems: Assessing social gains by using probabilistic cost-benefit analysis.

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Title: Managing infiltration and inflow into wastewater systems: Assessing social gains by using probabilistic cost-benefit analysis.
Authors: Ohlin Saletti A; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Sustainable Waste and Water, City of Gothenburg, 41502 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.ohlin.saletti@chalmers.se., Lindhe A; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden., Söderqvist T; Holmboe & Skarp AB, Norr Källstavägen 9, 14896 Sorunda, Sweden., Nivert G; Department of Sustainable Waste and Water, City of Gothenburg, 41502 Gothenburg, Sweden., Gustafsson LG; DHI Sverige AB, Drakegatan 6, 412 50 Göteborg, Sweden., Rosén L; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Source: Water research [Water Res] 2026 Aug 01; Vol. 300, pp. 125958. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 18.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0105072 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-2448 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00431354 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Water Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Oxford, Pergamon Press.
MeSH Terms: Waste Disposal, Fluid*/economics , Waste Disposal, Fluid*/methods , Cost-Benefit Analysis* , Wastewater*, Decision Support Techniques ; Sweden ; Models, Theoretical ; Monte Carlo Method
Abstract: The wastewater system is an essential part of our infrastructure as it prevents flooding and protects public health and the environment. Infiltration and inflow into wastewater systems (I/I-water) is a significant problem for water utilities and should be managed so that investments maximise benefits to society. This paper presents a decision-support model based on cost-benefit analysis, with the novelty of including and monetising 14 effects of I/I-water measures which either affect the water utility or other parts of society and considering various uncertainties by assigning probability distributions to the input variables and performing Monte Carlo simulations. Currently, no such model is available to quantify the total value to society from measures to handle I/I-water. The proposed model is illustrated in a case study in Gothenburg, Sweden. In the case study, a reference alternative is compared to three conceptual project alternatives: total separation of the combined system, relining of the entire separate sanitary sewer system, and remediation at private properties. The case study highlights an imbalance in the distribution of costs and benefits for the water utility and society and shows the significance of including externalities to avoid underestimating the social benefits of removing I/I-water. Using the presented novel model facilitates a transparent and structured decision-making process for handling I/I-water in the manner most effective to society.
(Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Data-informed; Decision support; Expert elicitation; Monte-Carlo simulation; Sewer system; Uncertainty
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Wastewater)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260423 Date Completed: 20260715 Latest Revision: 20260715
Update Code: 20260716
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125958
PMID: 42025416
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Managing infiltration and inflow into wastewater systems: Assessing social gains by using probabilistic cost-benefit analysis.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ohlin+Saletti+A%22">Ohlin Saletti A</searchLink>; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Sustainable Waste and Water, City of Gothenburg, 41502 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.ohlin.saletti@chalmers.se.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Lindhe+A%22">Lindhe A</searchLink>; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Söderqvist+T%22">Söderqvist T</searchLink>; Holmboe & Skarp AB, Norr Källstavägen 9, 14896 Sorunda, Sweden.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Nivert+G%22">Nivert G</searchLink>; Department of Sustainable Waste and Water, City of Gothenburg, 41502 Gothenburg, Sweden.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Gustafsson+LG%22">Gustafsson LG</searchLink>; DHI Sverige AB, Drakegatan 6, 412 50 Göteborg, Sweden.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Rosén+L%22">Rosén L</searchLink>; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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  Data: The wastewater system is an essential part of our infrastructure as it prevents flooding and protects public health and the environment. Infiltration and inflow into wastewater systems (I/I-water) is a significant problem for water utilities and should be managed so that investments maximise benefits to society. This paper presents a decision-support model based on cost-benefit analysis, with the novelty of including and monetising 14 effects of I/I-water measures which either affect the water utility or other parts of society and considering various uncertainties by assigning probability distributions to the input variables and performing Monte Carlo simulations. Currently, no such model is available to quantify the total value to society from measures to handle I/I-water. The proposed model is illustrated in a case study in Gothenburg, Sweden. In the case study, a reference alternative is compared to three conceptual project alternatives: total separation of the combined system, relining of the entire separate sanitary sewer system, and remediation at private properties. The case study highlights an imbalance in the distribution of costs and benefits for the water utility and society and shows the significance of including externalities to avoid underestimating the social benefits of removing I/I-water. Using the presented novel model facilitates a transparent and structured decision-making process for handling I/I-water in the manner most effective to society.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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