Envirowise : Water Issues Seán Moran

Contents  What is Envirowise?  What water really costs  Things to do  How to find further help

What is Envirowise?  Formerly Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme  Funded by DTI & DEFRA in association with Devolved Administrations  Free help for all businesses  Promotes better environmental practices that reduce business costs  Cleaner technology  Waste minimisation  Show that environmental improvements can actually SAVE MONEY

Reducing Water Use  Tracking Water Use to Cut Costs (GG152)  Cost Effective Water Saving Devices & Practices (GG67)  Saving Money Through Waste Minimisation: Reducing Water Use (GG26)

What Water Really Costs  1-2% of turnover  Methodology: How to identify areas where savings can be made?  Technology: What kit is available?

How Much Can We Save?  For sites that have not previously tried to save water, reductions of 20% in water and effluent bills are usually achievable at little or no cost. As much as 40%, or more, might be achievable if projects with paybacks of up to two years are included

Systematic Water Minimisation I  Involving all members of staff from senior management to plant operators;  developing a clear, easily understood plan;  determining the true costs of water consumption and wastewater generation;

Systematic Water Minimisation II  Identifying all water inputs and outputs;  drawing up a water mass balance;  allocating annual water consumption between major users;  brainstorming to generate water saving ideas;  implementing all feasible options;  maintaining savings

Involving all members of staff At the beginning of the project:  site management  the project team  the team leader However, all employees have a contribution to make and this should be encouraged.

Developing a clear, easily understood plan: I Without an effective plan:  not all the achievable savings are identified;  the exercise becomes a one-off ‘purge’;  ongoing savings are not pursued;  employees are not motivated to help;  implementation of ideas is difficult;  the programme loses momentum and disappears

Developing a clear, easily understood plan: II Scope: The plan should state whether: - The whole site is to be addressed or just one part. Addressing the whole site has Advantages, but for a large site, one area or department could be selected for a pilot study. - Water only will be addressed or water and contaminants simultaneously.

Developing a clear, easily understood plan: III Programme: A timetable covering all the planned activities should be drawn up. The overall programme may last 12 months or more. Monthly milestones are therefore important.

True Costs Of Water I  Purchase price  Disposal price  Trade effluent charges  Pumping costs  Maintenance costs  Capital costs  Treatment costs  Loss of valuable materials

True Costs of Water II  Avoiding potential bottlenecks  Helping water company planning  Environmental benefits  Increased production without having to upgrade the water supply system  Reduced corrosion and improved working conditions through the elimination of leaks

Identifying all water inputs and outputs  Annual water consumption  Effluent volumes

Draw up an Overall Mass Balance  Data Validation  Inputs=Outputs  Drying  Product  Rainwater

Allocate Flows to Areas  Equipment suppliers  Design specifications  Spot check measurements  Estimations  However, it is important to determine total actual consumption and not rely on what is believed to be used.

Brainstorming  Team  Sequence  Analysis  Conclusions

Maintain Savings  Departmental competitions  Suggestion schemes  Appointment of ‘water wardens’ as the primary contact in each area of the site.

Survey of Water Distribution Systems and Points of Use  Unidentified connections;  Cross connections;  Broken valves;  Incorrectly set valves;  Leaks

Survey of Water Use and Patterns  Excessive or unnecessary use  Unknown use  Unauthorised use

Survey of Effluent Discharges and Routes to Sewer  Clean water discharges direct to effluent;  Unauthorised discharges to effluent;  Unnecessary surface water discharges to effluent;  Sources of potential failure of effluent discharge consents.

Before Considering Devices  Agree  Target for net savings  Payback periods  Consider  How are savings to be estimated?  What impact will savings have on costs?  How much can be spent?  How can appropriate water saving devices and practices be identified?

Which Devices to Consider?  Cost Effective Water Saving Devices & Practices (GG67)

Water Saving Devices and Practices for Industrial Estates  Contents  General Water Use  Process Plant

General Water Use  Monitoring  Leakage identification and elimination  Overflow identification and elimination  Use of block valves instead of preset control valves for isolation

General Water Use  Flood prevention  Tamper prevention  Plan temporary supplies  Reduce undesirable heat loss or gain

General Water Use  Re-use of wash water  Scrapers/squeegees/brushes  Cleaning in Place (CIP) technology  Recycle after treatment

Process Plant  Liquid ring vacuum pumps  Cooling towers  Heat exchangers  Hydraulic power packs

Water Saving Practices & Devices for Commercial Sites  Contents  General Water Use  Toilets  Showers  Gardening  Laboratories  Garages

General Water Use  Automatic/manual isolation of water supply

Toilets  Flush control

Showers  Flow restriction

Gardening  Sprays/jets  Automatic supply shut-off  Abandon grass watering  Minimise evaporation  Rainwater collection

Laboratories  Condensers  Vacuum pumps

Garages  Spray Systems  Water Reuse

Summary of Envirowise Assistance  Environment and Energy Helpline   Free advice  Free Site visits for SMEs  Free Publications  Workshops & seminars

Environmental Industries Forum  Company page on their website  Materials Exchange  Seminars  Networking  Advertising  Newsletters 