Key Takeaways
- Water recycling is the process of treating used water so it can be reused to meet specific needs and quality standards.
- Implementing water recycling helps the industry by optimizing water use, reducing the wastewater volume, and minimizing the reliance on raw water sources.
- The quality of recycled water must be tailored to its use through appropriate treatment stages and testing.
Water demands in industrial activities continue to rise, while availability should be managed efficiently. One of the most widely adopted approaches is water recycling.
Water recycling can help optimize water resource management and reduce the reliance on new water sources. To understand the process, benefits, and applications in the industrial environment, learn more below.
What Is Water Recycling?
The availability of clean water is one of the challenges that should be addressed to ensure the sustainability of industrial operations. According to GoodStats, the number of Indonesian citizens who live in areas with a shortage of clean water is projected to continue to grow.
In 2050, 50% of Indonesian citizens are estimated to live in areas with a shortage of clean water; about 17% of them are categorized as in absolute scarcity, or a shortage of supply that cannot meet the total demand even after all options for increasing supply and managing demand have been implemented.
This condition indicates the importance of more efficient water treatment, including for industrial sectors that require water for various operational stages.
One approach is water recycling. In general, water recycling is a system for recycling used water or wastewater through a series of treatment processes, resulting in water quality that meets the requirements for reuse according to industrial needs.
In an industrial context, water that has been processed can be returned to the same process or diverted for other operational needs, depending on the quality of the treated water.
Read also: Wastewater Treatment: Purposes, Methods, and Stages
Stages of Water Recycling
In the industry, water recycling has several stages to ensure used water can be processed to meet quality standards. The procedures of water recycling can be different based on the characteristics of wastewater and the purpose of reusing water, but generally the stages include:
- Identification and collection of wastewater: Wastewater from the production process, cooling system, or operational activities is collected and flowed into the treatment facility.
- Preliminary treatment: Water is filtered to eliminate large materials, suspended solids, oil, or other contaminants that may disrupt the next process.
- Biological treatment: Microorganisms help break down organic substances, reducing pollutants in water.
- Disinfection: A technology, such as UV rays, chlorine, or ozone, is used to inactivate remaining pathogenic microorganisms in water.
- Advanced purification: For higher water quality purposes, a technology, such as reverse osmosis (RO) or distillation, can be used to reduce micro-sized dissolved substances.
Benefits of Water Recycling
Water recycling in industrial activity is not only associated with wastewater treatment but also supports resource efficiency and operational sustainability. Several benefits of water recycling include the following:
- Reducing the use of raw water: Water recycling allows used water to be processed and reused for operational processes. Therefore, the company does not need to use more raw water.
- Increase the efficiency of water use: Water can be reused through a system of treatment and controlled reuse. This cycle can help the company optimize water use and reduce operational activity.
- Reduce wastewater: Wastewater can be processed and returned to the system. It helps reduce the volume of wastewater that needs to be treated or discharged to the environment after processing and meets the applicable provisions.
Read also: The Importance of Water Resources Management & Its Regulations
Characteristics of Water Suitable for Use
Overall, we can determine the water suitability based on its purpose. Water for industrial operations does not always require the same quality as water for consumption. However, water can be suitable for use if it has the following characteristics, such as:
- Free from biological contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses.
- Free from harmful contents of minerals and chemicals.
- Odorless, colorless, and not murky (this condition typically indicates the presence of other compounds; thus, improper for recycling).
Optimizing the Efficiency of Industrial Water Treatment with CDI Group
Effective water treatment is essential to maintain operational efficiency and support the use of resources sustainably. Therefore, you need to consider reliable partners that can provide solutions for water treatment tailored to industrial needs.
As an associate company of PT Chandra Daya Investasi Tbk (CDI Group), PT Krakatau Tirta Industri (KTI) is ready to provide pillars of water treatment that include clean water supply, water demineralization, and wastewater treatment.
KTI manages operational and maintenance activities (O&M) for the wastewater treatment installation of the biotreatment blast furnace at PT Krakatau Steel. This installation has a treatment capacity of about 32 m³/hour and implements biological wastewater treatment.
Furthermore, Krakatau Blue Water (KBW), a joint venture established by KTI and Blue O&M Co., Ltd., operates the Wastewater Final Treatment facility with a capacity of about 17,000 m³/day and a reuse system with 7,000 m³/day capacity owned by PT Krakatau Posco.
This capability is part of CDI Group’s commitments in presenting infrastructure solutions that support operational requirements and use resources efficiently.
With our experience and infrastructure support, CDI Group continues to provide solutions that can help the company optimize water resource treatment and maintain the sustainability of our partner’s industrial operation.
Contact us to become #YourGrowthPartner that supports industrial water treatment through solutions based on your operational characteristics and needs. Entrust your industrial water treatment needs to CDI Group and KTI.
Read also: Water Conservation: Definition, Benefits, & Implementation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To make your understanding clear about water and waste treatment in industrial activities, check out some frequently asked questions below:
1. What Is WTP in the Factory?
WTP (Water Treatment Plant) is a facility to process raw water into water with a quality tailored to the factory’s operational requirements.
2. What are the Differences between Liquid Waste and Wastewater?
Liquid waste is the waste of activities in liquid form, while wastewater is water that has been used and contains pollutants, so it is necessary to treat it before being discarded or reused.
3. How Can Industrial Waste Pollute Water?
Industrial waste can pollute water through chemical substances, heavy metals, oil, organic compounds, suspended sediments, and microorganisms that get into the body of water, reducing its quality