Closing Water Cycles in Industry: Theory and Implementation

Abstract

Sustainable development calls for processes with a closed loop philosophy and recycling becomes thus a normal, rather than exceptional solution. Water reuse and recycling in industry is one of the most important ways enabling absolute and relative decoupling of environmental impact from economic growth. There are more and more corporations focusing development efforts on Cleaner Production (CP) and Pinch analysis methods, i.e. systematic approach to using resource more efficiently, and avoiding the use of hazardous substances where substitutes are available.

Paper deals with water saving, reuse and recycling in industrial companies by preventive strategies, which are achieved by applying know-how, by improving technology and/or by changing attitudes. Preventive strategies included the following prevention methods: good housekeeping, input substitution, better process ­control, equipment modification, technology change, product modification and on-site recovery/reuse. The key idea is to remove the reasons of problems rather than their symptoms.