Water Management - How you can save with proper water management.
Posted on Thu, Mar 10, 2011 @ 01:01 PM
These days you hear a lot about the need to conserve water. Who cares? Water is abundant and cheap, right? What’s the big deal?
The world and even some areas of the US are facing a clean water crisis. Areas like the southwest are facing decade long droughts, and while water might be both low priced and readily available now, that could change. Here, in one of the most progressive countries in the world, we don’t make proper water management the priority it ought to be. Good water management is a sustainable and beneficial option for any operation.
Sustainability is a hot topic lately. You've likely been hearing it all over the place, as it’s a growing movement in virtually every industry anymore. In the construction materials industries, good water management can be one of the most sustainable practices that you can engage in. It’s easy, cheap, and could save you money.
Not sure what I mean by this? Sustainability simply means using resources in a responsible and environmentally sound manner which preserves and protects the needs of future generation. Immediately things like oil, coal, lumber, and other raw materials should come to mind when you hear things like sustainable, environmentally friendly, “going green”. However, water management is one of the easiest ways you can start moving forward towards running a sustainable operation.
Reduce, reuse, recycle. Water, at any industrial operation, should be treated like any other material you use. Reduce the use of fresh, clean water whenever possible. Simply limiting the amount of water used to rinse trucks could save hundreds, if not thousands of gallons a day. Reuse water wherever you can. This could include using clarified process water for further washing activities, such as in a concrete reclaimer, or at a sand plant. Proper process water management can save you both headaches and money. And recycle water as often as you can. At concrete plants, using process water for batching is a great way to cut down on water usage.
Regardless of your industry, good water management should be a priority. A more sustainable operation, ultimately in the long run, is a more profitable operation. The days of treating water as a bountiful and limitless commodity are dwindling. It’s not only a good business practice to become more sustainable, it’s our social responsibility to preserve what we have for future generations.
