Reducing water system costs in industry

Charges for water supply and wastewater disposal are r1s1ng at about twice the inflation rate and will continue to do so if we have to keep enlarging supply and disposal systems. Industry can reduce its water system costs both directly and indirectly by reducing its demands on public systems. Most industries can more than halve water use and wastewater discharge and this sort of reduction has been achieved by many industries already. To achieve such a reduction it is necessary to critically study water use and the water system. Increased management effort achieves the greatest savings at least cost and must be the first step. Other tools available are to redesign the water system or the water-using processes, to increase internal recirculation or to use treated wastewater from elsewhere. The quality of water necessary for various process should be determined by considering quality related problems which could occur. Materials of construction and degree of recirculation influence the necessary quality. Treatment of wastewater to reduce sewerage system acceptance charges is only ever economic for concentrated wastes although this could change in future. A large number of water and wastewater treatment processes are available and costs for these are presented. The choice of degree of treatment and the process to be used requires great care and wide experience.