|
If you operate under the control of an IPPC Permit you will have a requirement to carry out a water resource use audit regularly and submit your action plan to the Environment Agency. If you don’t have this requirement it still makes sound business sense to conduct audits, to make sure that your business is as efficient as possible and maximise your returns.
What am I looking for?
Obviously leaks from pipework are a sign of poor management of water supplies, although much of your water mains may be below ground. In that case you could be paying for large quantities of water that are not even making it to your production unit, because the water meter may be some way from your manufacturing site.
Your operations staff may be using wash-down hoses without fail safe control and could leave these running without the water being used effectively. Fitting trigger controls could significantly reduce your water usage from this source.
The use of water inefficiently within the manufacturing process could, however, be a far greater source of wasted water, as well as a generator of effluent that you are paying to remove from your site. An audit of the ways on which you use water, identifying the standard of purity that is actually required for your process and pairing that with “grey” water streams can significantly improve the cost effectiveness of your water usage.
Using additional low cost water meters closer to the point of water use can identify areas for attention. These units are not only cheap but are simple to install and if the usage is measured regularly during your process you will understand the water use profile of your operation far better.
Once you understand where you are using water and at what rate, you can begin to develop your action plan to begin saving money. Those savings can be large (particularly where they also reduce your effluent generation) and can begin to be gathered quickly with a little planning and creativity.
Who can help?
NEPIC can help you to identify ways to save on water consumption and can put you in touch with other bodies that can provide specialist help.
Contact us for more information, or to arrange an on-site discussion to begin the process of improving your resource efficiency by emailing Ian Findley on idfindley@aol.com.
 Supported by One NorthEast and Defra's Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme
|
