Did you know about 10 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributable to water and wastewater use, storage, distribution, and treatment? In today’s world, sustainability and efficient resource management are more critical than ever. Stakeholders and regulators require an understanding of a company’s water reduction goals and greenhouse gas emissions. Industrial users feel this pressure and may see enormous water bills due to inadequate water accounting and water losses between processes.
One powerful tool that can help companies achieve their water reduction goals, understand their water use, and lower their water bills is through submetering activities. Many facilities traditionally utilize a single meter, usually monitored by the utility provider for potable or process water, and can only see utilization after the monthly bill is received. These facilities are looking in the “rearview mirror” at their usage. Submetering involves measuring the flow or consumption of water (or other utilities) at locations within a facility, providing detailed insights into usage patterns as they occur, and identifying opportunities for conservation. Submetering can provide several benefits, including:
Real-time Monitoring: Connecting a submeter to an RMC/SCADA (remote monitoring and control/supervisory control and data acquisition) system enables real-time monitoring of water utilization. Clients can promptly set usage limits, be notified of excessive use, and implement corrective actions immediately remote from the facility.
Non-intrusive Solutions: One of the most attractive features is that RMC utilizes wireless and cellular communications and clamp-on metering types that are non-intrusive to process operations and utilize secured communication. With this in mind, a customer’s lean operations and maintenance teams can focus on production.
Cost Savings: By closely monitoring water usage, companies can identify and address leaks, inefficiencies, or wasteful practices. Correcting these can save significant costs by reducing water waste and minimizing operational expenses.
Sustainability: Submetering supports sustainable practices by helping industries reduce their environmental footprint. By optimizing water usage, companies contribute to water conservation efforts and demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility. Less water typically means lower greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage required to heat, treat, or move more water.
Customized Reporting: RMC submetering programs have reporting features that allow users to view customized dashboards and reports on water usage trends, efficiency improvements, and cost savings. These reports can be valuable for internal analysis and reporting to stakeholders.
Water Reduction, Stewardship, and Balancing
At a manufacturing facility, we audited and modeled the water balance for our client’s water stewardship plan under development, including identifying potential water savings in the evaluation. We temporarily used clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters for several days to measure flow rates in key locations. Our findings indicated significant losses at several vital locations that consumed large quantities of water. These locations did not have meters, which also created a data gap. This knowledge helped our client implement an appropriate solution, save operating costs, and identify that the existing wastewater system could not accommodate a proposed facility expansion.
Reputable Full-Service Environmental Specialists
If a facility is in a similar situation or is interested in evaluating water, energy, usage, or lowing GHG, an environmental engineer can design, furnish, and install customized submetering solutions tailored to each specific need. Utilizing state-of-the-art remote monitoring and control systems allows businesses to monitor live usage from any device, including cell phones, tablets, and PCs, and look for trends indicating certain processes or locations requiring attention. A reputable full-service firm will conduct an initial site evaluation and provide system implementation and ongoing support. They will have a track record of successful submetering projects that have helped clients save time, reduce costs, and improve their understanding of water usage.
Remember that by leveraging the power of submetering, you can achieve your water reduction goals, enhance sustainability, and optimize operations!
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