Promoting Resource Efficiency in Small & Medium size ... - UNEP

4.3 HOW:
Implement a water saving programme
Quick Win Map Explanation Tools (in the electronic version of
the toolkit)
Step 1:
Draw a Water Flowchart
Step 2:
Collect Data
Identify all uses of water by creating a
water flowchart
Collect and measure consumption data
using resources available and log it
Advanced Reference (in electronic
version)
Water Flowchart • Water Flowchart
(with examples and templates to
fill in)
• Flowcharter (Programme link)
• Guide to Water Balance
Collect Data • Data Entry Form
(see advanced reference
“ Water Flowchart”)
Step 3:
Benchmark Performance
Step 4:
Consider Options
Step 5:
Evaluate Option and Implement
Program
Benchmark your consumption with
best practice to determine improvement
potential
Consider options towards improving the
plant’s water efficiency from literature,
other industries’ experiences and/
or recommendations from RE, CP and
SP service providers. Also undergo
brainstorming sessions with your team.
Evaluate option, compile and implement
programme (link to PDCA)
Benchmark Performance • Sectoral Benchmark
• Unit Process Benchmark
Consider Options • Option Evaluation Worksheet
• Further detailed process and
sector related options see Virtual
Assessment
Link to DO-phase
Table 10: Quick Win Map for reducing water consumption
A water efficiency programme starts with a bird’s-eye view of water
consumption. Draft a flowchart showing the water flows as suggested
at the top of Table 10. Then take measurements to fill the flowchart
with data. Benchmark water efficiency on the basis of specific water
consumption per production unit. With this data on hand, options for
reduction will become obvious. Selected options will be organised in
the action plan, which is part of the PDCA-cycle.
Step 1: Draw a Water Flowchart
To identify potential water efficiency opportunities, it is first necessary
to gain a thorough understanding of the site’s water uses through a
water assessment. The first important task is to construct a water flow
diagram, which identifies all water use from its source through the on-site
processes, machines, buildings and landscape irrigation to evaporation
and wastewater discharge.
For further information on how to draw a water flowchart, please click
on the advanced reference “Water Flowchart” on the Quick Win Map in
the electronic resourcekit and follow the instructions.
Step 2: Collect Data
Once all types of sources, uses and discharges of water have been
identified, it is necessary to quantify all single mass flows.
Compared to many other material flows, collecting data of water
consumption is relatively easy because the following documents or
tools are in most cases available:
• Annual payment to provider or to disposal companies
• Water meter, water counter
• Rotameter
• Design specifications by manufactures of equipment
• Indicators 28
• Ultrasonic flow meter
• The bucket method
• Measuring wastewater e.g. by using the V-notch method
To account for all uses in the water balance, the total inflow should equal
the total outflow plus irrigation, evaporation and other water losses.
In case water meters are not available to measure the consumption in
single departments or at individual machines, use the bucket and a
stopwatch to identify the water flow (Figure 25).
Use any bucket where you know the
capacity or measure the capacity of the
bucket before further steps (e.g. 10 liters
or 2.5 gal). Take the bucket and fill the
bucket with the hose where you want to
know the flow. Count the time in seconds
(e.g. 20 seconds) Divide the capacity by
the time in seconds. You will get the water
flow from the hose in litres per second or
gallons per second.
An example: 10 litres / 20 seconds =
0.5 litres per second..
To get the water flow (from per second) to
per minute: multiply by 60 (60 seconds
per one minute), per hour: multiply by
3,600 (3,600 seconds per one hour) per
day: multiply by 86,400 (86,400 seconds
per one day).
Figure 25: Measuring water volume with a bucket and a watch
28) UNIDO Cleaner Production Toolkit, Textbook Material flow analysis, 2008.
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