Speaker
Description
This study analyzes the application of WASM - Water Assessment for Sustainability Method, a structured decision-support framework that enables the evaluation of scenarios, risks and technological alternatives prior to operational investments.
The method is structured into 4 phases—Decision Governance, Technical Validation, Solution Design and Implementation—ensuring an integrated and strategy-oriented approach.
The case study concerns a metallurgical plant where spent emulsions from a forging press generated approximately 1,000 tons of wastewater per year, treated through physico-chemical processes and subsequently discharged. Through the first 3 phases of the WASM method, vacuum evaporation was identified as the optimal solution. This technology allows the separation of emulsions into a reusable distilled fraction and a reduced concentrated residue for disposal.
The outlined pathway suggests a significant improvement in environmental performance: following the Implementation phase, water consumption is expected to be reduced by up to 95% through internal reuse, while wastewater volumes will be significantly decreased. In addition, reduced waste transport is expected to contribute to lower indirect CO₂ emissions. From an economic perspective, a reduction in operating costs and a rapid return on investment are anticipated.
This case highlights the value of a structured methodological approach in supporting sustainable decision-making aligned with circular economy principles.
| Speaker Company/University | Contec Industry |
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