World Water Day 2023: A Ripple Effect

Rhea-AI Summary

DOW has implemented a new water recycling initiative at its Kankakee, IL coatings plant, achieving a 30% reduction in annual wastewater generation and a 14% decrease in water consumption. The project saves the company $100,000 annually and enables the plant to recycle its reverse osmosis (RO) reject water, previously wasted. This high-concentration stream is now redirected into the plant's water supply, allowing for efficient manufacturing processes with acceptable water quality. Identified as a best practice, this initiative has been nominated for a Sustainable Environmental Engagement at Dow (SEED) Award and reflects a positive approach to sustainability while enhancing operational efficiency.

Positive

• 30% reduction in annual wastewater generation.
• 14% decrease in water consumption.
• $100,000 annual cost savings.
• Initiative nominated for a Sustainable Environmental Engagement at Dow (SEED) Award.

Negative

• None.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Sometimes saving water starts with a simple question: What if?

Twenty-five years ago, when reverse osmosis (RO) technology was installed at our Coatings plant in Kankakee, IL, the decision was made to not recycle the water leftover from the filtering process. Scott Bassett, who works as senior improvement manager at the plant, decided recently to take another look.

"We were looking for ways to reduce our water footprint in our community by better managing water consumption and wastewater generation," Bassett said. "We looked at our RO process and identified a cost-effective way to fully recycle the wastewater stream."

The result was significant: a 30% reduction in the annual wastewater generated by the plant and 14% annual reduction in water consumption. The project also saves Dow $100,000 in costs annually.

Manufacturing the coating materials that go into paints requires highly purified water. The RO unit at the Kankakee plant filters municipal drinking water to create a stream of 70% treated water, suitable for manufacturing, and a stream of 30% reject water that contains concentrates such as minerals. Previously, this reject water had been incorporated into the plant's wastewater stream.

In search of solutions to reduce the plant's impact on local water generation and wastewater treatment assets, Bassett and his team asked a simple question: What if the high concentration reject stream was redirected to the front of the plant and into the general water supply? That would enable the RO concentrate water to be diluted enough to be suitable for the plant's manufacturing processes.

"We performed calculations to determine how much of the waste stream could be recycled back into the site's general utility water supply and determined that even if 100% of the concentrate steam was recycled, the RO unit would be able to produce acceptable quality process water," Bassett said.

Given the recycled water's higher mineral concentration, the site's engineering team worked with its water treatment vendor to determine the impact of the recycle stream to other utilities, such as cooling towers and boiler systems. The vendor was able to make the necessary operational and chemical changes needed to manage the recycled stream.

In addition to reducing the potable water the plant uses and cutting back on wastewater in Kankakee, the project could have positive ripple effects across Dow. It has been identified as a best practice that other facilities can potentially leverage to find similar benefits. It has also been nominated for a Sustainable Environmental Engagement at Dow (SEED) Award for its positive impact on water sustainability.

"This is what happens when you look through the lens of sustainability - a positive sustainability outcome with economic benefits," said Jeffrey Moretti, operations sustainability manager for Coatings and Performance Monomers. "There are projects like this out there. We just have to go find them."

Basset agrees that progress around sustainability sometimes starts with a new mindset.

"The answer is simple - the right people got engaged in the right way to find a solution for reusing water," he said. "Now we're more efficient at the water we take in, and our water intensity has gone down."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DOW on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: DOW
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dow
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: DOW

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/749142/World-Water-Day-2023-A-Ripple-Effect

FAQ

What recent water recycling initiative did DOW implement at its Kankakee plant?

DOW implemented a water recycling initiative that reduced annual wastewater generation by 30% and water consumption by 14%.

How much does DOW save annually from the new water management system?

DOW saves $100,000 annually from the new water management system.

What is the significance of the water recycling project for DOW?

The project has been identified as a best practice for sustainability and has been nominated for a SEED Award.

When was the water conservation initiative at DOW's Kankakee plant announced?

The initiative was announced on April 13, 2023.

What potential impacts does the new water recycling system have for DOW?

It may have positive ripple effects across other DOW facilities, encouraging similar sustainability efforts.