Why compliant water management in industry needn't cost the earth

Sector: Industry and infrastructure 

Challenge: Regulatory compliance

From chemical plants and mining operations to food factories and fish farms, every business uses water in a different way.

But there is one common issue for all: the need to meet stringent standards on how water is managed.

Regulatory compliance means staying up-to-date with rapidly changing rules on providing drinking water, disinfecting your wastewater and much more. Xylem understands that no two industrial water handling situations are the same, with a range of tailored applications from bypass and back-up pumping to process water supply and fire suppression to help meet the strictest rules.

One challenge for today’s industries is how to optimise industrial processes, as water scarcity from climate change, urbanisation and increasing commercial and regulatory demands place an ever greater strain on operations.

The use of UV and ozone treatments have a growing role to play as companies and corporations take a more proactive approach to improving their green credentials – by looking after both environment and workforce. This is particularly vital for the food and beverage processing industry which has to make every drop count, from transporting source water to treating water used in production, along with internal reuse within processing facilities then treatment and discharge of wastewater.

The right water management can mean better sustainability, productivity and reliability, including adherence to statutes, as we progress towards the target of zero emissions.

Water intake

Nearly 55% of the total uptake of water for all human activities is used by industries like mining, power plants and the food and beverage sector to run their operations. Xylem offers a number of products to help you diversify your water intake by boosting reuse, in turn reducing the cost of transporting your water and ensuring a stable supply for the future.

Our knowledge of industry compliance standards can help you to navigate regulations on how much water you can take from different sources, with experts ready to provide bespoke solutions for every sector.

Process water management

Heating, cooling and cleaning can drain a lot of energy for many factories and industrial plants; our Lowara pumps not only reduce emissions but also slash energy costs and - more relevantly than ever - eliminate unplanned downtime in your process.

It’s here that ozone can meet your needs now and into the future. A biofilm layer on a cooling tower heat exchanger, even as little as 1.2mm, can lower efficiency by up to 43%. Treating it with ozone will not only remove the fouling from the plates and keep the associated pipework clean, it will reduce corrosion from microbial activity and in the long-term decrease downtime needed for maintenance and repair.

Wastewater

Generated in large quantities by industry, wastewater can be costly to treat appropriately – with the strictest standards applied. Xylem has a wide selection of filtration systems as well as mixers and blowers.

Not only does using UV and ozone in place of harmful chemicals fall in line with regulation - and align with the need to reduce our impact on the environment - they also slash staff's risk of handling hazardous materials.

In the food and beverage industry, washing fruits and vegetables with ozonized water kills the spores, mould and yeast that would otherwise spoil the produce: compared with chlorine-based products, ozone treatment is 50% stronger as an oxidiser and acts 3,000 times faster.

Research has also indicated that UV may even extend the shelf-life of fresh produce. It needn't be a drain on energy either: advanced UV lamp technologies and processor controls mean UV intensity can be reduced as required, saving up to 20% on power consumption.

Smart water management

Digitising your water cycle from end to end with a smart water management system means lower emissions and energy costs for you, thanks to remote monitoring and control that minimises interruptions along with intelligent equipment to optimise your processes.

Our team know every regulation, code and standard to help you meet and exceed your targets in the smartest way possible. We understand your industry, and the challenges you face with water management from reducing downtime losses to maximising asset life.

We can provide 24/7 rental for your water needs, and maintenance contracts to ensure pumping and water assets work at their maximum efficiency – with minimum risk of unforeseen downtime.

Whatever industry you’re in, we are here to help you meet the needs of your customers and adhere to stringent standards along the way.