How can steel companies recycle water?
Water is our most precious resource, and it is also used by industries in order to keep their processes running smoothly.
This is especially true of industries such as steel manufacturing.
But with techniques such as water purification and industrial water recycling, the water usage will be reduced and the water will be able to be reused either within the company or in other applications.
This wastewater treatment is one of many steps that steel companies are taking to recycle and reuse water.
Some companies make use of industrial water purification which is a popular treatment process among industries and manufacturers. It is a type of industrial water treatment which aims to purify the water and eliminate the chemicals that are created by the steel manufacturing processes. If you would like to look into recycling water and reducing your water footprint as a steel company, read on below for some top tips.
Invest in a water audit
A water audit is a highly effective way to help your efforts towards recycling water and reducing your usage. This is because it will tell you where high water usage points are in your industrial process, as well as alert you to any possible leaks. You can then work towards fixing these leaks and creating methods for recycling water wherever you can.
You can use the data from the water audit and create solutions to your recycling problems. For example, if you notice that employees are using a high volume of water in the kitchen to wash dishes, you can save this water from the sink and use it to flush the toilets. Or you could install a rainwater catchment tank outside to use for watering the garden or cleaning equipment rather than using potable water for this.
Choose cascading rinsing processes
Many steel manufacturing plants use sustainable water treatment technology including cascading rinse processes, which involves reusing water from a final-stage rinsing process that is less contaminated than the rest in another process that does not need as pure a water source.
You can also reuse this water for flushing toilets or even cleaning equipment. Be sure to look very carefully at what this water contains before using it as some of the chemicals might damage the products in the earlier rinsing process. You will need to ensure that these chemicals are filtered out of the water to ensure that it can be reused safely and responsibly.
Focus on filtration
FIltering the water that you use for manufacturing processes can help immensely in recycling and reusing water in a steel company. You could look into natural or organic filtration, which involves using rocks or sand together with cartridges as well as ceramic layers which draw together the debris on the other side.
Filtering the water will make it usable for other applications, such as cleaning equipment, flushing toilets or even in other processes in your plant. You could also look into activated charcoal filters and other organic materials to provide a deep filter of the water before you reuse it. Ensure that the filters are cleaned and replaced regularly to sustain the practice.
Don’t dismiss disinfecting the water
Disinfecting the water in your processes can be a viable option for recycling or reusing water. You will need to opt for non-harmful chemicals which can remove the chemicals or residues in the water, or you could opt for chlorine as a disinfection aid as it can easily be used in water without causing too much damage to the water.
You can also invest in ultraviolet (UV) light systems which can destroy bacteria and other compounds in the water without the need to add any other chemicals. This is a highly effective method of cleaning and disinfecting the water before it is used again. Combining chemical disinfection with UV and filtration can create clean and reusable water quickly and efficiently.
Fix all the leaks
While fixing leaks might not contribute to recycling water, it is highly important with regard to saving water. If you have found a lot of leaks in your steel manufacturing plant, then you will need to make efforts to fix these leaks, as these will have an effect on your water bill as well as your impact on the environment.
As mentioned earlier, a water audit can help immensely with this, as it will show you exactly where the leaks are coming from and how your water is being used. Hire a professional plumber to fix your leaks and to repair any pipes that could be damaged or ageing. Once the leaks are fixed, you will find that your water usage is significantly reduced.