Water savings could boost industry profits says Siemens

Cutting water use could help food and beverage companies save hundreds of thousands of dollars and make businesses more

sustainable, says Siemens Water Technologies which is promoting a six point water-saving strategy.

Scope for savings

First, planning water requirements more effectively from intake to discharge should allow companies to identify the scope for savings.

“Preparing a water audit of your business can identify ways to reduce your water footprint immediately,” said the company. Be sure to

continue to monitor your usage closely.

Second, treat water as a valuable resource. Water is not free; it takes energy and technological resources to treat water. “Statistics

show that almost 50 per cent of the world's population by 2030 will be living in areas of high water stress. So, the more tightly managed

the water usage, the better,” advises the company.

Third, reuse and recycle. Capturing, treating and recycling water during the manufacturing process can reduce water use by millions of

gallons per year, as well as save money, explains the Siemens. This can be achieved by looking at areas like boiler feed water, utility

water or recycling.

Fourth, consider the link between water and energy. Energy costs account for nearly 30 per cent of the operational costs at water

treatment facilities. According to Siemens, a major brewing company installed technology, which by converting its waste to energy,

was able to save the equivalent of $500,000 in energy costs per year at a single location.

Fifth, reduce waste. An effective water management strategy can help reduce waste and discharge, while also helping to help to meet

regulatory requirements.

Water Footprint Network

The sixth point to the strategy encourages firms to find more advice on water saving at the Water Footprint Network here .

So manufacturers across the globe should identify solutions to reduce their water footprint and increase efficiencies, he said. “The time

is now to seal in the savings and begin working toward your sustainability targets”.