The Water of Life: What Water Means to Us at Spraying Systems Co.
Welcome to the final edition of our Water Use Wednesday posts! Today, we're turning inward to highlight our own commitments to water stewardship and industrial sustainability. From internal optimization efforts that have helped reduce resource use within our own facilities, to external programs designed to help our partners reduce resource use in theirs, let’s ride our final wave all the way to shore!
Environmental Sustainability: Our Approach
At Spraying Systems Co., sustainability is ingrained in our DNA. Even before we opened our doors in 1937, the idea of “sustainability” was always at the forefront. The reason for this was simple: we understood that doing more with less was not only good for our shared environment, but it was good for the bottom-line as well.
The Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse...Retrofit?
We feel that in order to manage a problem effectively, you must first understand what the problem is, which is why we try to monitor and measure as much as we can. General monitoring allows us to track water usage in different areas of our facilities, which helps us detect leaks quickly and prevent the overuse of specific water supplies.
Another way we’ve been able to reduce our water use is by implementing automated faucets within our facilities. It’s by no means a novel idea, but this simple change has reduced the flow per individual faucet by nearly two gallons per minute (gpm). Add that up over the course of a year and we’re talking about some serious savings, for very little effort.
Reduction is always the first step, but then what? Well, it’s time to reuse, of course! Reusing freshwater within our facilities is another easy way for us to be more efficient with our water resources. Perhaps the easiest example of this is our 10,000-gallon underground reuse tank. Installed below our Spray Analysis and Research Lab, this tank captures the freshwater used in our testing activities and recirculates it for future use, saving hundreds of thousands of gallons per year.
What happens when we’ve reduced as much as we can reduce? What happens when we’ve reused all that we can reuse? Well, that’s when we shift focus to retrofits and system upgrades, like the ones we made to our hot water supply. Old equipment was eliminated to reduce system water requirements, and new equipment was resized to reduce total system capacity to a more appropriate level. This resulted in a “ripple effect” as it not only lowered water use, but also electricity (used to pump the excess water) and gas (used to heat the excess water). Finally, upgrades to our boiler increased the efficiency of the system by 95% (15 to 20 gallons from 220 gallons), further reducing our total resource consumption and associated costs.
Sustainability Assessments: Simple Solutions, Significant Results
As a global company, we understand the environmental impact our operations can have, and as the global leader in industrial spray solutions, we also understand that our impact can be amplified exponentially. Recognizing our potential to drive positive, industry-wide change, we developed our Sustainability Assessment program. Our assessments take a targeted approach aimed at leveraging our decades of knowledge and expertise to help our partners get the most out of their operations while consuming less…and they can produce BIG results.
Our Sustainability Assessments follow a streamlined five-step process. It all begins when a potential partner seeks to improve their facility's efficiency, productivity, sustainability and safety. After sharing program details, we begin developing our action plans by gathering preliminary data on current operations and resource usage. Next, our dedicated team visits our partner’s facility to conduct an on-site assessment at their convenience. Our spray technology experts evaluate our partners prioritized operations, focusing on equipment effectiveness and improvement opportunities. We test approximately 20 percent of onsite equipment to ensure accurate sampling across the entire facility, while looking for issues related to spray nozzle wear, clogging and general performance. Following a typical three-day assessment, we meticulously review, organize, and analyze the collected data. We then compile our findings into a detailed report, summarizing our observations, suggestions, and potential cost-saving implementations. This includes projected savings in water, energy, and other associated costs. Should you choose to implement our recommendations, we provide ongoing support with clear instructions and verification of projected savings. Most importantly, we remain committed and engaged with our partners after the assessment to ensure equipment remains optimized for maximum savings well into the future.
Navigating the Tides of Change: Our Roadmap to Water Stewardship and Sustainability
We hope you have enjoyed reading these posts as much as we have in creating them! As we conclude our final edition of Water Use Wednesday, we’re proud to reflect on how Spraying Systems Co. is not only setting a benchmark for sustainability within our own industry, but also leading the charge in water conservation across industry. Our commitment to operational efficiency has shown that effective water management promotes responsible environmental stewardship, as well as smart business decision making. From cutting-edge water recycling techniques to smart upgrades like automated faucets and energy-efficient boilers, our initiatives demonstrate that meaningful improvements are both achievable and impactful.
Not only that, but by leveraging our Sustainability Assessment, you too can unlock significant savings and enhance your facility’s efficiency. At Spraying Systems Co., we are dedicated to supporting you every step of the way, from initial assessment to successful implementation. Thank you for joining us on this journey toward a more sustainable future. Here’s to continued progress and the positive impact we can achieve together!
About the Author
Kevin Gottlieb , Sustainability Assessments Manager
Kevin brings over a decade of experience in industrial markets, with a focus on sustainable process improvements and optimizing production efficiencies. In 2019, he joined Spraying Systems Company’s Sustainability Division, where he spearheaded a program aimed at identifying and addressing industrial waste. Since 2022, Kevin has led the Sustainability Team, driving initiatives that have helped eliminate:
Kevin’s work continues to shape the future of sustainable industrial practices.