In order to reduce water consumption in a company, it is not only necessary to know in which areas water consumption occurs, but at the same time an audit should also provide the methods to optimise this consumption, adapted to the needs of the respective company. Such audits do not currently exist. <\/p>\n\n
The new audit method iWaterCheck by AEE Intec, KMU Forschung Austria and V-Research will close the gap: Unlike the determination of the water footprint, where a life cycle assessment measures how much water a product consumes through production and processes, iWaterCheck will furthermore focus on the potentials to optimise this consumption and identify measures to save water. iWaterCheck, however, also differs from the water pinch method, which was also developed to optimise water consumption, but only knows three instruments to reduce this consumption. Unlike pinch, iWaterCheck will also include water treatment technologies that are only just emerging, such as membrane distillation, electrolysis, crystallisation technology or electro-dialysis. <\/p>\n\n
Behind iWaterCheck is a database that is being set up by AEE Intec and the two research partners KMU Forschung Austria and V-Research. This database contains the essential characteristic data and performance parameters as well as – essential for SMEs – the costs of the water technologies. It includes both established processes and new technologies. An algorithm is programmed for this database, which automatically combines the respective optimisation goals of a farm with the technologies suitable for this purpose. These include technologies for saving water as well as technologies for water treatment and recycling. <\/p>\n\n
In the course of iWaterCheck, AEE Intec will also conduct three case studies with SMEs to develop, test and optimise the methodology.<\/p>\n\n
iWaterCheck is particularly relevant for SMEs, for example almost 93 percent of all companies in the food sector are SMEs. The need to work in a resource-efficient way and to present this to consumers and customers affects businesses in all sectors equally, but it is easier for companies to commission their own audits and design their own strategies.