Analysis of the role of waste minimisation clubs in reducing industrial water demand in the UK

Chris P Holt, Paul S Phillips, Margaret P Bates

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

As a result of the UK Government’s waste policy, which increasingly encourages sustainable development, and the realisation that water in the UK cannot be treated as an unlimited resource, there is growing interest in reducing the demand for water by industry. A series of industrial waste minimisation clubs have been set up within the country. This paper identifies the effectiveness of these clubs in reducing the demand for water. An overview of some of the clubs show how there is a major discrepancy between potential and implemented water savings, whilst a more detailed analysis of three specific examples show how water demand and cost to the company can be reduced, with the project paying for itself within around 1 year. It appears that companies are able to reduce water consumption by approximately 30%. If this level of saving were taken up by the entire industrial sector in England and Wales, water consumption could be reduced by approximately 1500 Ml:day. This reduction would be more significant in regions of lower rainfall, for example East Anglia and Southeast England.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4
Pages (from-to)315-331
Number of pages17
JournalResources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2000

Keywords

  • Industrial water use minimisation
  • Water demand
  • Waste minimisation
  • Water management
  • Industrial water conservation

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