Permit compliance, water availability, and sustainability top the list

Water scarcity is an increasingly urgent global issue and industrial water reuse has emerged as a crucial strategy for ensuring water security and sustainable operations. While water reuse projects are not all the same, they tend to have the following four main drivers.

Permit Compliance

Especially in the North American market, one of the biggest catalysts for industrial water reuse is permit compliance. Allowable discharge limits from municipalities and regulatory authorities are becoming more stringent each year. For many industrial users, it might be easier to implement a water reuse treatment system than to try to keep up with these ever-tightening limits.

Water Availability

Water availability is a significant motivation for water reuse. In regions with limited water resources, plants may struggle to secure what they need to operate, making industrial water reuse a viable solution. Water availability is a significant concern in the United States and around the world. In regions with water scarcity, Fluence’s NIROBOX™ containerized water treatment solutions offer a rapid and efficient way to secure a reliable water supply. These modular units can treat various water sources, including seawater and brackish water, providing industries with a drought-resistant water source and enhancing overall water security.

Corporate Sustainability Goals

Many major corporations, including Coca-Cola, have set ambitious water use reduction targets as part of their sustainability goals. These targets drive the adoption of industrial water reuse systems to reduce overall water consumption and minimize environmental impact.

Economic Benefits

Economic factors also play a role in industrial water reuse. The high cost of water and discharge can make it economically beneficial to reuse wastewater within the plant. Products such as the SUBRE submerged membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) solution offer significant cost savings in water treatment and reuse. By reducing both capital and operational expenses, these systems provide a compelling economic case for industrial water reuse, often resulting in a rapid return on investment.

The Complexity of Water Reuse Projects

Water reuse is a complex task that requires well-planned solutions tailored to local conditions. The approach can vary significantly based on geographic location, even within the same city or country.

While wastewater is often the first target for industrial water reuse projects, sometimes it is easier to treat incoming water to a higher quality, allowing more use within the plant. For example, treating makeup water to a higher quality can enable a cooling tower to operate at much higher cycles and may lead to an overall water reduction when compared to treating blowdown for reuse.

Key Considerations for Water Reuse Projects

When considering industrial water reuse projects, it’s essential to have defined goals and a solid basis for design. This includes understanding water quality and its variability, temperature, and other factors. Crucial steps include developing a flow diagram, preparing ion and mass flow balances, and projecting the system’s performance throughout the treatment system.

Additionally, it’s vital to have a backup plan for unexpected changes in water quality or emergency conditions. This might include emergency ponds, storage tanks, or the ability to discharge to the city at higher expense.

Starting Small and Scaling Up

It’s okay to start small with industrial water reuse projects. Instead of tackling the entire plant’s wastewater flow, consider focusing on a specific stream. Streams with lower organic content, such as cooling tower water or process wastewater, generally are easier to treat than larger, facility-wide flow rates.

Projects driven by sustainability goals often offer more flexibility compared to those driven by financial or permit compliance reasons.

Successful Implementation

Industrial water reuse projects are undoubtedly challenging but with defined goals, a solid design basis, and a well-thought-out plan, they can be successfully implemented. At Fluence, we help customers navigate these complexities, providing flow diagrams, mass balances, equipment lists, budgetary estimates, and detailed design documents so they can make informed decisions.

Ready to embark on your water reuse journey? Fluence is your partner in achieving water security and sustainability. Contact our water experts to discuss your specific needs and explore innovative solutions tailored to your operations.