Water is essential to manufacturers – whether used for heating, cooling, washing, rinsing, or any of its several other industrial uses. It is also a resource that can be scarce and costly if not used efficiently. Recognizing this, more manufacturers are expanding planning to include efficient water usage.
There are many challenges to implementing water-saving measures at a manufacturing facility, such as insufficient ROIs on water-saving projects and inadequate data available on water use within the facility. However, understanding the true costs of water and assessing water use opportunities can lead to substantial water and energy savings. Starting with basic good housekeeping practices and progressing to more advanced conservation strategies can help to establish a robust water management program and can lower operating costs and improve water quality.
Top Water Saving Measures
- Optimize cooling tower and boiler system blowdown
- Identify and fix water leaks and overflows
- Consider water savings in the design and procurement of new systems
- Review equipment specifications and adjust water use accordingly
- Eliminate once-through uses where possible, such as for cooling or cleaning
Explore the Water Savings Network page for industrial partners to learn how DOE is helping partners to track water use intensity improvements and share successful strategies and solutions. For more detail, review the Better Plants report, "Developing a Corporate Water Management Strategy for Manufacturers", and the WATER CARD INFO. Additional resources specific to Better Plants partners can be found below, including options to connect with the water-saving and water-system subject matter experts.
Subject Matter Experts
Kiran Thirumaran
R&D assistant staff, technical account manager
Paul Lemar
Technical account manager
Prakash Rao
Research scientist