True Cost of Water

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Context & Aim

Water is a vital resource for Ireland’s welfare and prosperity, yet its true value and the implications of its use in manufacturing are often overlooked. Traditionally, water has been perceived as a low-cost resource in industry, leading to minimal investment in its monitoring and optimisation. However, industries involved in the pre-and post-treatment of water are starting to recognise the hidden costs associated with its usage.

Existing water mapping standards provide benchmarks for identifying high-water consumers but often rely on one-off measurements, offering only a snapshot of performance.

The True Cost of Water project seeks to enhance these methodologies by integrating real-time monitoring and data mapping. This approach aims to validate a range of scalable applications, providing a comprehensive decision-making tool for evaluating water supply, reuse, and discharge in manufacturing facilities. The goal is to improve understanding of complex water systems, leading to better-informed project decisions and more sustainable water management practices.

 

Challenge

  • Water system monitoring infrastructure is typically limited in adequate sensor coverage, connectivity, and advanced software, hindering comprehensive oversight.
  • Industries frequently do not have a clear understanding of the true cost of water as it passes through their facilities. This gap makes it difficult to identify potential improvement projects and justify related expenditures.
  • Water mapping audits generate static outputs and are costly to conduct.

 

Solution

Our comprehensive strategy includes:

  • Leveraging current infrastructure alongside IoT sensor technologies for cost-effective monitoring.
  • Tracking and integrating intermittent data, such as quality measurements, into existing systems.
  • Mapping integrated data to a water mapping standard to facilitate various applications.
  • Using water mapping to identify and develop applications aimed at reducing water use, increasing resilience, and improving sustainability metrics.

 

Moreover, we work with clients on a case-by-case basis, employing a holistic approach to water management. This approach assists companies throughout their water management journey and encompasses three main areas:

    1. Water Visualisation: Data acquisition and baselining, water mapping, metering and monitoring, and True Cost of Water (TCW) analysis.
    2. Optimisation: Identification of water-saving projects to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
    3. Excellence: Providing training and advisory support for certification to ensure best practices.

THEMATIC PILLAR

Sustainable Manufacturing

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The True Cost of Water in Industrial Facilities

Previous and Current Clients

  • Wyeth Nutrition
  • Cambus Medical
  • Hovione
  • J&J Vision
  • Janssen
  • Boston Scientific
  • Coca-Cola Ballina Beverages

 

Other Info:

CIRCULÉIRE: Towards a Circular Economy of Water in Ireland

CIRCULÉIRE’s cross-sectoral Circular Economy of Water Guide is designed for those interested in the sustainable management, use, and preservation of water across all sectors of the economy, including policymakers. The guide aims to provide stakeholders with an overview of industry-led circular innovations that are shaping water use in other parts of the world. It highlights opportunities to circularise the water value chain in Ireland, covering aspects from sourcing, treatment, distribution, and consumption to wastewater collection and treatment.

 

For more details, you can access the guide here.

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