Look across
the facility.
Water leaving one process may be a candidate for another use. Start by understanding both sides of that connection.
Put both sides of the process on the same page.
The available water and the receiving process each bring their own operating pattern. Keep those descriptions together.
- Available source
- Where it comes from, when it is available and what is known about its quality.
- Receiving process
- The use being considered and the requirements of the equipment or process.
- Operating conversation
- The people who understand daily demand, access and ongoing responsibility.
Plan around
site operations.
Start with the production pattern
Water availability can follow shifts, batches, cleaning cycles or seasonal work. Describe those patterns before treating the source as a steady supply.
Understand the receiving process
The next process has its own water-quality and reliability needs. Those requirements should shape feasibility work, alongside the source characteristics.
Bring operations into the conversation
Access, maintenance space, shutdown windows and ownership of daily checks can affect a project. The people who run the site should help frame those questions.
Compare the supply
with cooling demand.
A cooling application deserves its own assessment of source quality, demand and operating needs.
Source options
Identify the sources available at or near the site. Their characteristics and availability will differ.
Operating conditions
Describe the cooling application and its pattern of demand. Bring existing operating requirements into the brief.
System context
Consider storage, backup supply, physical connections and the responsibilities for ongoing operation.
Further reading: US EPA — Water reuse for industrial applicationshttps://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/water-reuse-industrial-applications-resources