SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WATER SECTOR
ENGINEERING SUSTAINABLE WATER
In demand, in control: the business case for balancing water as a resource with operational performance.
By Chris Payne, co-founder & director of PureTec Separations
remnants, or raw materials like sugars. Each of these represents a cost already paid, and a chance to recover that value instead of sending it down the drain. What’s changing is the mindset. More clients are now asking how to get more from the water they already use. It’s no longer about minimum compliance. It’s about maximum return.
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY STARTS WITH SMARTER DESIGN Water systems don’t exist in isolation. They’re deeply connected to energy use, maintenance schedules, and equipment lifespan. That’s why reducing the volume of water you handle can deliver benefits far beyond the treatment plant. Lower water throughput means lower wear and tear on pumps and membranes. It allows for longer service intervals, smaller OpEx budgets, and improved carbon performance. When specified correctly, treatment systems designed for efficiency are more stable, more reliable, and less prone to drift. At PureTec, we’ve seen this across both new
W
ater is under pressure. Whether viewed as a raw material, utility cost, compliance risk, or sustainability target, it now sits at the centre of many of the biggest operational decisions being made across UK industry. And that’s not just a problem. It’s an opportunity. As water becomes both more scarce and more scrutinised, companies are being asked to treat it differently. It’s no longer enough to simply treat wastewater and move on. Businesses are expected to show they are using water responsibly, reducing waste, improving reuse, and driving efficiencies. But doing so doesn’t mean compromising performance. When done right, smarter water use improves operational resilience, reduces long-term cost, and delivers measurable sustainability benefits. All at once. At PureTec, we see the most successful businesses treating water not just as a resource, but as a lever for better operations.
WHY WATER EFFICIENCY IS NOW A BUSINESS PRIORITY Water use is one of the clearest examples of where sustainability and commercial performance now align. Reducing the amount of water used in production or processing brings immediate benefits: lower energy consumption, reduced chemical usage, and critically, lower costs for water disposal. The less water you use, the less you need to move, heat, dose, or pay to discharge. For manufacturers, this often comes down
to the water:product ratio. Improving this ratio delivers clear savings across utility bills, treatment costs, and discharge fees. It also reduces the load on ageing infrastructure and supports stronger environmental performance. But there’s a wider issue too. Many businesses are still discharging wastewater that contains recoverable value, whether that’s heat, product
20 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2025
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installations and upgrade projects. When reuse systems are introduced to repurpose wastewater for low-grade applications like washdown or cooling, water demand drops significantly. The whole system becomes easier to manage. In one recent project, a closed-loop recycling system saved over 26 million litres of water across three years. It also reduced energy and discharge costs at the same time.
SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES NEED LIFECYCLE THINKING One of the biggest risks in water treatment is the ‘fit and forget’ approach. A system may meet spec on day one, but if it isn’t properly maintained, performance will drift. Energy use climbs, compliance becomes harder, and operators are left
chasing problems instead of managing progress. That’s why our approach is always service-led.
From design and commissioning through to optimisation and aftercare, we work with clients across the lifecycle of each system. This includes remote monitoring and predictive maintenance tools that give operators a live view of performance, flag issues early, and highlight opportunities for improvement. By combining human insight with system data,
our engineers can help clients maintain peak efficiency, extend asset life, and stay ahead of compliance challenges. Systems should never be static. With the right input and visibility, they can evolve as site needs change, remaining cost- effective, efficient and resilient over the long term.
LEADING THROUGH ACTION As pressure on water continues to grow, businesses have a choice. Wait for regulation to force change or take control now. The companies seeing the biggest benefits are the ones who act early. They identify where water can be saved, reused, or recovered, and use that as a platform for wider gains. Balancing water as a resource with operational performance doesn’t have to be a trade-off. When planned properly, it’s a route to stronger outcomes on all fronts. From reduced OpEx to improved ESG reporting, from lower emissions to higher resilience, sustainable water strategies are proving their value where it matters most. At PureTec Separations, our mission has always been to engineer sustainable water. That means combining smart design, trusted technologies, and long-term support. As demand increases, so does the need for control. For those ready to act, the opportunity is already here.
PureTec Separations
www.puretecseparations.com/
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