Urbanisation, population growth, climate change and economic development are increasing the water stress. It is estimated that by 2025 half of the world's population will live in water stressed areas. It is more and more understood that water resource is finite and that long-term solutions for drinking water supply need to be managed through an integrated approach.
When global population increases not only the water demand increases but also the water pumped for potable supplies from river, lakes and aquifers is increasingly polluted by wastewater discharge.
Reuse
The petrochemical and refining industry that are industry consuming high volumes or water, with for example in the oil refining total consumption of water in the same order of magnitude as the total crude volume processed on site. This results on a double pressure on these industries:
- A pressure to reduce the water consumption of the site
- A pressure on the effluent discharge (reduce effluent volume and/or increase quality)
Reuse and recycling are an opportunity to provide the refining and petrochemical industry with long-term, integrated solutions. It provides a reliable source of water for the industrial site while also providing social and environmental benefits to all by reducing increasing the water quality and resource available.
Reuse and recycling membranes