Saving water is important in any industry sector. This good practice guide deals with issues faced by organisations involved in the manufacture of speciality chemicals and who want to identify and implement process improvements, in particular, the reduction of water use; and wastewater and effluent costs. Water is used during many stages of the manufacture of speciality chemicals. Water is a relatively cheap commodity, but most of the water used becomes effluent. Combined water and effluent costs are between 1.5% and 4% of production costs in most speciality chemical companies. However, water supply and trade effluent charges are only the ti
p of the iceberg. Hidden costs include on-site water treatment, water heating and distribution, and effluent treatment, in addition to the value of materials and product lost to effluent.
Good water management
Adopting a systematic approach to water management can help speciality chemical companies to:
- reduce operating costs;
- comply with stricter environmental legislation and standards;
- improve productivity and product quality;
- improve working conditions;
- improve their public image.
Reducing water and effluent costs
This good practice guide is intended to help speciality chemical companies save money by reducing their water and effluent costs. The guide:
- describes a systematic approach to minimising water use and effluent generation;
- presents benchmark data on specific water consumption and effluent strength in the industry;
- provides practical advice on how to reduce water and effluent costs;
- gives industry examples illustrating the cost and other benefits of taking action to reduce water use;
- contains checklists and a cost savings worksheet for companies to use at their sites to help them identify cost-effective opportunities to reduce water and effluent costs;
- signposts to further, more detailed information in other publications and from other authoritative sources such as the UK’s Environment Agency.
Many speciality chemical companies have already implemented measures that have reduced their water consumption by between 5% and 50%… request a copy of the full document >>
© Crown copyright
