A decision tool for improving manufacturing water usage efficiency

Abstract

The environmental drivers for improving the efficiency of water usage in manufacturing industry are strong. However, while a water reduction programme can initially produce worthwhile benefits with moderate effort, further significant reductions require change to product, process or operational planning. The investment risk represented by such changes may act as a disincentive for companies to proceed with water conservation efforts. To improve the situation a methodology and a supporting simulation tool for decision-making in water reduction investment is introduced in this work. The methodology is based on the concept of water usage efficiency introduced in previous work, which allows the identification of hotspots where the maximum gains from intervention can be achieved. The tool further supports a structured approach to ranking the feasibility and benefits of proposed interventions. A report is presented on application of the tool to the operations of a food-manufacturing company in India. The area with the greatest potential for improvement was identified as being water directly involved in the process of rice cooking, with the corresponding highest ranked intervention option being pre-soaking the rice. This option delivers the desired efficiency benefits while being lower cost than more technically involved interventions such as introducing water treatment equipment.