Water Case Studies
Case Studies: Major water recycling project underway 
Western Port’s recycling project will cut its fresh water consumption by 60% or 660 mega litres per annum, |
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Major water recycling project underwayBlueScope Steel Western Port has committed to a $21.5 million recycling project, which will cut its fresh water consumption by over 60 per cent. The pioneering project – which received a funding commitment from the Victorian Government in the May 2007 State Budget – will see Western Port cut its fresh water consumption by 660 mega litres per annum. This is equivalent to the annual water consumption of about 3000 new homes. The project will see the partial upgrade of the Somers Treatment Plant and the installation of a new 13-kilometre pipeline to take recycled water to BlueScope Steel’s Western Port plant for use in its manufacturing operations. It will take wastewater from local households and businesses and treat it using micro-filtration, reverse osmosis and disinfecting technology. Once at the Western Port plant, the recycled water will be distributed via a new independent reticulated supply network. Fresh water will continue to be used at the plant for drinking, amenities, and fire and safety systems. In addition to saving water, the project will also reduce discharges of treated wastewater to Western Port Bay by 75 per cent (from 375 mega litres per year to 95 mega litres), reduce discharges from the South East Outfall by 370 mega litres per year, and reduce prescribed waste to landfill by 75 per cent (from 1,550 tonnes per year to 375 tonnes).
The Western Port project is just one of a number of water savings projects that have recently been implemented by BlueScope Steel, including a major water-recycling project at the Port Kembla Steelworks. Waste water has also been significantly reduced across many process lines at Western Port, largely as a result of measures to reduce water consumption. For example, Coil Paint Line No. 4 (CPL4) reduced its water consumption by over two-thirds, by introducing improved quench, condensate and pre-treatment control systems. The plant has also worked hard to educate its employees and help them save water at work and at home. An employee showerhead exchange program was introduced during the year, in partnership with South East Water, enabling employees to replace their old showerheads with a new water efficient model free of charge. Water efficient showerheads were also installed across the site. The water recycling project is the culmination of a two-year partnership between BlueScope Steel and South East Water, assisted by the Environment Protection Authority and Sustainability Victoria. The Victorian Government will provide $4.1 million in funding, with BlueScope Steel contributing $8 million and South East Water $9.4 million. The Western Port project is currently undergoing final engineering studies and is targeted for completion by mid-2009.
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Water being used in the Port Kembla steelmaking operation. |
Two Major Water Awards Presented to BlueScope SteelBlueScope Steel won two major awards for its water recycling program at Port Kembla – the Largest Volume Reduction award from Sydney Water and the Green Globe Award for energy and water from the New South Wales government. Largest Volume Reduction AwardSydney Water presented BlueScope Steel with the Largest Volume Reduction award in its annual ‘Every Drop Counts Business Program Awards.’ The Port Kembla Steelworks reduced fresh water use by a massive 888,000 litres a day through reusing water onsite, sourcing alternate water supplies, improving industrial processes, regular monitoring of water consumption and increasing staff awareness. This is before taking into account the savings from the new industrial water recycling plant, which supplies the Port Kembla Steelworks with 7.3 billion litres of recycled water each year. Individual Water Initiative AwardsIndividual initiative awards for significant achievements in water conservation were also presented to Wendy Hird (Energy Services), Tom O’Toole (Technology & Environment) and Mick Boyle (Plate Mill). Green Globe AwardBlueScope Steel received an Excellence Award for the Port Kembla Steelworks water savings action plan in reducing its reliance on dam water. An Achievement award was also won for the Sinter Plant water reduction program. Individual Water Champion awards were presented to employees Leigh Woolley and Dave Manczak.
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John Thwaites, Victorian Minister for Water, highlights water tank use at launch of the National Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook. |
BlueScope Water Helps Launch Rainwater Tanks GuideBlueScope Water was in prime position at the launch of the National Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook.
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