Inzonex
Carbon Hub / Practices / Water efficiency
Water and energy

Assess industrial water efficiency

Build a site water balance, include the energy used to heat and treat water, and quantify each measure from site data.

Define the cost boundaryOpen the screening calculator
01

Define the full water cost

Build the cost boundary before comparing measures. Include water supply, treatment, useful heat, system losses and effluent charges where they apply.

Cost layerBoundaryInput
SupplyMetered intakeUse the site tariff
TreatmentSoftening, reverse osmosis and chemicalsUse operating records
Useful heatAbout 58 kWh per m³ for a 50 °C temperature riseCalculated from water heat capacity
System lossesBoiler, distribution and storage lossesMeasure or use verified equipment data
EffluentDischarge and treatment chargesUse the permit and tariff
02

Measure the available actions

MeasurePurposeEvidence needed
Sub-meteringSeparate process areas and establish a baselineMeter readings and operating schedule
Leak testingIdentify continuous lossFlow test or night-flow record
Controlled washdownMatch flow and duration to the taskMeasured flow and cycle time
Condensate returnRecover water, heat and treatment valueReturn flow, temperature and hours
Cooling-tower controlControl blowdown against water qualityConductivity, make-up and blowdown records
Water reuseReuse a suitable stream for a lower-grade dutyQuality, permit and process review

Record the calculation and source data before reporting an emissions reduction. Use the draft carbon calculation record to retain the boundary and inputs.

Inzonex removable modular insulation on industrial equipment
Equipment heat loss

Measure exposed hot surfaces

Use measured surface area, temperature and operating hours to calculate heat loss from boilers, kilns, heat exchangers, valves and pipework. Inzonex supplies removable modular insulation for equipment that requires maintenance access.

  • Design target: surface temperature at or below 45 °C, subject to the application and design review
  • Claimed heat-loss reduction: up to 96%, subject to the measured boundary and insulation specification
  • Removable construction for inspection and maintenance access
  • Calculation record available for the selected equipment and operating conditions

Do not add a calculated reduction to an emissions report until the reporting boundary, factor, implementation date and verification method have been approved.

03

Questions

How much water can an industrial plant save?
There is no percentage that applies to every plant. Establish a water balance using intake, process, discharge and sub-meter data. Quantify each leak, once-through use and reuse opportunity separately.
Why is hot water a carbon issue?
Heating 1 m³ of water through 50 °C requires about 58 kWh of useful heat before system losses. Fuel use and emissions then depend on the actual heat source, efficiency and reporting factor.
What are the standard industrial water-saving practices?
Common controls include sub-metering, leak tests, controlled washdown, condensate return, cooling-tower control and reuse of suitable low-contamination streams. Check hygiene, product quality, discharge permits and water-treatment requirements before reuse.
Source: Inzonex Carbon Hub — inzonex.co.uk/carbon · prices dated as shown on each figure · schedule per Regulation (EU) 2023/956 · indicative analytics, not compliance advice.