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Water and Wastewater Minimization: the Aire and Calder Project
Author(s) -
Edwards A. M. C.,
Johnston N.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1996.tb00040.x
Subject(s) - wastewater , payback period , effluent , environmental science , minification , waste management , investment (military) , sewage treatment , raw material , environmental engineering , engineering , production (economics) , computer science , economics , chemistry , organic chemistry , political science , politics , law , macroeconomics , programming language
The reduction of the waste of raw materials at source using clean technologies, recycling, and good housekeeping has considerable benefits for both the environment and industry. A demonstration project on wastewater minimization was completed in 1995 in the Aire and Calder catchments of West Yorkshire. The findings indicated cost savings for eleven firms of over $3 million/annum and further opportunities which, when implemented, could realize another $1 million/annum. The reduction in the amount of wastewater discharged either to sewer or river was 27%, with a potential to increase to over 40%. The payback period for 63% of the waste minimization opportunities is less than one year and many involve only a small initial investment. Waste minimization when widely adopted has prospects for cutting industry's costs, reducing demand for water and reducing the volume of effluent produced.