Sustainability Assessment Framework (SAF)

What is the SAF?

SAF

The Sustainability Assessment Framework (SAF) is an enhanced Triple Bottom Line approach that provides a very dependable and robust structure for evaluating wastewater management options. It is designed to provide decision makers with a framework to understand the cost and benefits of alternatives across a spectrum of social, economic and environmental goals and objectives. In this way, a more balanced view of alternatives is created, and one which can be weighted in a variety of ways to achieve the best possible solution.

How is the SAF used?

At the CRD, we will not be relying on the SAF outcome as a final decision. A SAF evaluation is best used as a guide or a tool, allowing the CRD to look at numerous options, to weight criteria and to suggest potential measures to reduce the impacts of an alternative. As well as the SAF, we will be considering policies which may have more global importance than just wastewater management when making decisions on treatment.

Blue sky

The SAF includes three distinct yet interdependent elements:

  1. Multi-objective alternative analysis (MOAA)
  2. Risk identification and analysis
  3. Decision process

Read more about the MOAA in A Decision Making Framework for the Wastewater Biosolids Management Program (PDF PDF)
(Summary of Discussion Paper 031-1)

Weighing the Objectives

The SAF is measured using hierarchy criteria, performance measures, and by weighting and scoring each objective in terms of importance. Weights can be changed to explore different aspects of treatment options, providing decision makers with a variety of options.