{"id":8486,"date":"2023-03-28T10:12:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T02:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/incit.org\/?p=8486"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:42:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T05:42:27","slug":"water-efficiency-in-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/incit.org\/en_us\/thought-leadership\/water-efficiency-in-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"The need to increase water efficiency in manufacturing \u2013 and how"},"content":{"rendered":"

Water has really played a pivotal role in the growth and development of society throughout the course of history, with considerable amounts consumed in various industries and through municipal use. The manufacturing industry is not excluded \u2013 in the US alone, over 18.2 billion gallons (68 billion litres)<\/u><\/a>\u00a0are used per day for industrial purposes.<\/p>\n

Water conservation is essential in manufacturing because efficient manufacturing processes directly affect resource depletion, but effective water use boosts operational efficiency through reduced costs and waste.<\/p>\n

Water conservation and its environmental impact in manufacturing<\/h2>\n

In the manufacturing sector, water conservation drastically influences both environmental and operational outcomes. According to a\u00a0U.S. Census Bureau report, over 66 per cent of the U.S. population<\/u><\/a>\u00a0residing in certain regions are susceptible to water scarcity, highlighting the critical nature that manufacturers employ efficient water use. By reducing industrial water intake by even 1 per cent<\/u><\/a>, manufacturers can save around 222 million gallons of water use each day, which is enough to meet the daily needs of 2.3 million people. This reduces pressure on local water resources and promotes resource efficiency.<\/p>\n

As water demand increases over time with a growing global population, water scarcity and waste use in manufacturing\u00a0will become an issue that manufacturers need to keep in mind. So, how can manufacturing become more water-efficient and work towards reducing water overuse?<\/p>\n

How much water is used in manufacturing processes?<\/h2>\n

Many of the processes involved in manufacturing not only consume large amounts of water, but also produce a lot of carbon. It\u2019s been found that every cubic metre of water consumed creates roughly 23 pounds (10.6 kilograms) of carbon emissions on average. But just how much water is being used on a regular basis and how can water consumption and carbon emissions be reduced?<\/p>\n

Apparel:<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Apparel production and processing require substantial amounts of water, with reports estimating that the fashion industry uses roughly 93 trillion litres<\/u><\/a> of water per year \u2013 around 4% of the world\u2019s freshwater supply \u2013 and this is projected to double by 2030. (Learn more about how Industry 4.0 is transforming textile manufacturing<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Electric power:<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Electrical power plants rely heavily on water as it is used extensively<\/u><\/a>\u00a0for cooling and scrubbing. For example, fossil fuel plants need around 140 litres per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced, while nuclear power plants require 200 litres. Without enough water, these plants cannot run optimally and may even have to halt operations during instances of drought.<\/p>\n

Paper: <\/b><\/strong>The forest products sector in the US consumes large volumes of water<\/u><\/a>\u00a0for pulp and paper manufacturing, using anywhere between 4,500 gallons (17,000 litres) per ton to 17,000 gallons (64,000 litres) per ton of paper produced. To put this into perspective, it takes roughly 20 litres of water<\/u>\u00a0to produce a single A4 sheet of paper.<\/p>\n

Semiconductors: <\/b><\/strong>Silicon chip cleaning utilises billions of litres<\/u><\/a>\u00a0of water annually, with a single chip often requiring up to 7,900 gallons (29,900 litres) to produce. Part of the chip cleaning process requires the use of Ultrapure Water (UPW) \u2013 water that has been treated and filtered to the highest levels of purity. Approximately 1,400 to 1,600 gallons<\/u><\/a>\u00a0(5,300 to 6,000 litres) of municipal water is needed to produce 1,000 gallons (3,785 litres) of UPW.<\/p>\n

Ways to improve water efficiency<\/h2>\n

Water efficiency in industrial production can be improved by changing the way we behave, modifying our operational processes and upgrading our technology. Improving water efficiency can reduce carbon emissions and bring about a range of sustainability, cost and operational benefits.<\/p>\n

Changing behaviour<\/h3>\n