Insights
As a global leader in water solutions and services, Ecolab remains dedicated to creating a more water secure future through smart water management, conservation and stewardship. By 2030 we plan to continue to achieve a Net Positive Water Impact through:
- Reducing, recycling and replenishing water at operational sites. We aim to reduce water impact by 40% per unit production across our enterprise from a 2018 base year.
- Protecting local watersheds by working to restore greater than 50% of our absolute water withdrawal volume at high-risk sites.
- Delivering outcomes through the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard by achieving AWS certification for Ecolab manufacturing sites located in high-risk watersheds.
Ecolab's manufacturing facility located in Garyville, Louisiana, is a key contributor to these goals. The Garyville facility is a reaction plant that primarily produces water treatment chemical blends and polymers. Ecolab's Garyville facility is located in the Mississippi River Basin, which is part of the largest watershed in the United States, the Mississippi River Watershed. Process water is pulled directly from the Mississippi River and treated on site. To source potable water, the site relies on water from St. John the Baptist Parish, which sources water from the Lions Water Treatment plant. This treatment plant also sources its water from the Mississippi River.
The Garyville facility was identified as a priority location to pursue AWS certification, enhance the site's smart water management approach and implement innovative technologies to advance enterprise water goals.
Actions
To contribute to Ecolab's enterprise water goals, the local team's objective is to reduce annual water use per ton of product by 40% from 2018 to 2030. The following projects help improve the facility's water balance and have been implemented to reduce overall water use:
- Reuse of multiple sand filter backwash systems to reduce the plant's intake of river water
- Fewer washouts in latex areas through initiatives that reduce water use
- Standardization of washout times for railcars and reaction vessels resulting in a reduction of overall water use
- Recovery of spent caustic from deionized water unit regenerations
- Restroom upgrades, including waterless urinals to reduce potable water use
- Cooling tower replacement
- Pump seal flush replacements and pump seal pot installation
- Returning steam condensate back to the boiler for reuse
Outcomes
The improvements made at the site have proved to be a helpful step forward for enhancing the site's operations and advancing Ecolab's sustainability goals.
