Integrating Reverse Osmosis to Reclaim Wastewater Effluent for Industrial Reuse in a Manufacturing Facility

Abstract

Every day, environmental concerns are growing more and more prevalent on social media, in the news, and in the corporate business culture. People are driving more electric vehicles, looking for ways to use renewable energies, and eliminate unnecessary waste from their everyday lives. Corporations are more environmentally conscious than ever and are setting aggressive environmental responsibility targets. These initiatives create a challenge for facilities managers, who are often tasked with developing real world solutions to achieve corporate targets. Water is now considered a scarce resource and facilities managers must find ways to reduce water usage or find ways to reuse the water that has already been purchased. Depending on the site’s infrastructure and the quality of its wastewater, a reverse osmosis system may provide a feasible solution to treat and reclaim wastewater for industrial reuse. Facilities managers who are able to implement reverse osmosis systems demonstrate their commitment to minimizing the impact of the facility on the environment and demonstrate their ability to harness a complex waste product and turn it into a commodity for the organization. Considering reverse osmosis for wastewater reuse can help facilities managers achieve corporate environmental initiatives. Properly integrating a complex equipment system such as RO is critical to equipment performance, operability, and maintainability.