Water efficiency technology research for high consumption industries

The Challenge

Whilst Scotland has a plentiful water supply, it provides services to a large number of industrial water users such as distilleries, food companies, agriculture, textiles, and electronics. As a consequence, industrial water use is predicted to be the single greatest factor in increasing water demand and wastewater discharge. Both long term availability of fresh water and stringent regulations on the wastewater discharge are two potential limiting factors for the future growth of the industry sectors within the country. As a result, there was an identified need to assess the appetite for new technology adoption, particularly in wastewater treatment.

WRc was brought in to assess interest in adopting new technologies, highlight end-user challenges for these solutions, and identify innovation funds for development of water efficiency technologies within the industry.

The Solution

Investigations revealed demonstrable interest from medium and heavy water users to adopt new technology solutions, particularly where local constraints exist either through expansion demands or environmental constraints identified by SEPA. However, some barriers and risks were identified in adopting new water/wastewater treatment technologies such as concerns about return on investment, technology suitability and safety, as well as the need for greater understanding of regulatory risks.

Suggestions regarding innovation funds advised that new funding mechanisms needed to be devised, perhaps combining Government and private water user funding. To minimise the barriers and risks of adopting new innovative technologies, WRc recommended the introduction of a structured assessment procedure to:

• Assess the innovative technology in terms of its Technology Readiness Level.
• Ensure third party validation of the technology's performance against the claimed specifications.
• Provide incentives to the interested water users by promoting the adoption of technology trials.