Industrial companies: What are the solutions for achieving water sobriety?
In 2022, France was once again hit by drought. This phenomenon is set to become more frequent and severe. As a result, companies need to adapt to
Les Echos[1] ran the headline in August 2022: “Companies face the reality of a semi-arid France” . Seven months later, in March 2023, President Emmanuel Macron presented his ” water plan “, setting a “ target of 10% water savings ” by 2030[2]. Businesses are at the heart of the change. In 2018, industry and agriculture consumed 5.4 billion m3 of freshwater per year. According to Alexandre Sailer, ” faced with the risk of water shortages, companies must reduce their water consumption “. A major challenge, but one for which solutions do exist. Let’s take a look at how to achieve water sobriety.
What is hydic sobriety?
The term water sobriety is being used more and more, but what’s behind it? Sobriety refers to moderation, and the adjective water refers to water. Water sobriety simply means limiting water consumption. In this article, we’ll look at how manufacturers can implement the principle of water sobriety.
I. Map your plant to measure and control it
” You can only control what you can measure,” says Alexandre. So, his first recommendation for reducing water consumption is… to know it. You need “to have a map of your company’s water use in order to understand how it works. That way, you can target discharges and needs.
The collaborative and predictive MyDametis software [3], which provides 24/7 access to company data via a single interface, makes it possible to set up this mapping. This tool speeds up decision-making, enables concrete improvements in performance indicators, and therefore improves water consumption management.
” With the data we had recovered, we were able to identify a number of losses at one of our customers: valves were not being closed, machines out of order were still consuming water… This led to solutions. The amount of water used was halved. “
II. Work to correct
This tool can also be used to correct practices or habits, and can therefore lead to the implementation of work. For example, adjusting machine settings, plugging leaks, eliminating wastewater cooling. Optimization work can also be undertaken, such as
Several companies are already using MyDametis in this way, including Agromousquetaires Lactalis and another international food group.
III. Optimize in-place cleaning to reduce water consumption and pollution
To further reduce water consumption[4], cleaning in place (CIP) must be optimized. This process is most commonly used in the food and cosmetics industries. It allows equipment to be cleaned without dismantling it. However, this method is costly in terms of time and water. But ” over-consumption of water has several consequences “, reminds Alexandre Sailer. “ Of course, there’s the economic cost of water, but it’s far more complex. It’s going to require more energy, more staff, take up more line opening time, and put more strain than necessary on the water treatment system. “
Dametis optimizes this cleaning process using three fundamental principles: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. To achieve this, we have three tools at our disposal: BarCIP, to analyze CIP operation; OptiClean, to measure efficiency and reduce washing time; and Green CIP, to reuse detergent solutions ad infinitum. These tools have been developed in partnership with Elodys and its founder Olivier Barrault, who reminds us that “to focus on decarbonization without taking water into account is to see only the tip of the iceberg “.
IV. A high-performance wastewater treatment plant for water efficiency
MyDametis and the tools put in place to perfect in-place cleaning help reduce the quantity of waste water, and therefore the amount of water to be discharged into the natural environment. ” This equipment consumes between 3% and 6% of a site’s total energy,” points out environmental expert Mathias Welschbillig. It’s a first step towards water sobriety.
As part of this environmental transition, Dametis proposes to analyze and improve the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant, in order to reduce its cost and water consumption, as well as to install a methanization module. An investment with multiple benefits, since it produces biogas, a green energy source, reduces the quantity of effluent, and sells the sludge from the methanization process as fertilizer for farmers.
V. Optimization and recycling, currently hampered by regulations
” Once consumption has been reduced, we need to think about reusing it “, summarizes Alexandre Sailer. Currently, with ” less than 1% of its wastewater reused […], France is one of the poor performers: the European average is around 7% “, recalls an article in Challenges, entitled ” Eau : l’industrie va aussi devoir se convertir à la sobriété hydrique “, published in January 2023[5].
But these measures also require ” support from the government “, says Alexandre Sailer. ” At present, to be able to reuse all the water from a plant, the process has to be extremely secure. It’s not impossible, but it’s very difficult to implement. The government needs to make this easier, and support manufacturers with subsidies. The authorities also need to establish a legal framework and regulatory controls to ensure that manufacturers are held accountable in this way. That’s the only way we’ll be able to make rapid progress. “
[1] https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/energie-environnement/manque-deau-les-entreprises-face-a-la-realite-dune-france-semi-aride-1781652
[2] https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2023/03/31/le-plan-eau-d-emmanuel-macron-est-avant-tout-un-appel-a-la-sobriete-de-tous_6167682_3244.html
[3] https://www.dametis.com/mydametis/
[4] https://www.dametis.com/limiter-votre-consommation-deau/
[5] https://www.challenges.fr/green-economie/eau-l-industrie-va-aussi-devoir-se-convertir-a-la-sobriete-hydrique_843288
