 Using
Water Efficiently: Ideas for Industry
Please note that these suggested measures are not intended to
overrule otherwise applicable federal, state, Tribal or local health
and safety regulations.
General:
- Appoint a water efficiency coordinator. Educate and involve
employees in water efficiency efforts.
Equipment:
- Install high-pressure, low-volume nozzles on spray washers.
- Install in-line strainers on all spray headers; inspect nozzles
regularly for clogging.
- Replace high-volume hoses with high-pressure, low-volume cleaning
systems.
- As equipment wears out, replace with water-saving models.
- Equip hoses with spring loaded shutoff nozzles.
- Install ultra-low flow toilets, or adjust flush valves or install
dams on existing toilets.
Practices:
- Detect and repair all leaks.
- Identify discharges that may
be reused and implement reuse practices. Some discharges with
potential for reuse are:
- Final rinses from tank cleaning, keg washers, fermenters
- Bottle and can soak and rinse water
- Cooler flush water, filter backwash
- Pasteurizer and sterilizer water
- Final rinses in wash cycles
- Boiler makeup
- Refrigeration equipment defrost
- Equipment cleaning
- Floor and gutter wash
- Use fogging nozzles to cool products.
- Handle waste materials in a dry mode where possible.
- Adjust overflows from recirculation systems by controlling the
rate at which make-up water is added: install float-controlled
valve on the make-up line, close filling line during operation,
provide surge tanks for each system to avoid overflow.
- Turn off all flows during shutdowns. Use solenoid valves to
stop the flow of water when production stops.
- Adjust flow in sprays and other lines to meet minimum requirements.
- Wash vehicles less often, or use a commercial car wash that
recycles water.
- Discontinue using water to clean sidewalks, driveways, loading
docks, and parking lots.
Landscaping:
This document is also available in PDF
(2 pp, 961K, About PDF).
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