Bosch automotive facility in US begins using reclaimed water in cooling towers

Dorchester county in South Carolina, US, has begun supplying reclaimed water to Robert Bosch’s automotive parts manufacturing unit in Charleston.

Construction on the water recycling system began in January 2013 and was completed in July this year.

According to Dorchester county, the recycling system saves approximately 25 million gallons of drinkable water annually and reduces operating costs by nearly $75,000 a year.

Reclaimed water is available at half the cost of potable drinking water. The system conserves 80,000 gallons of wastewater a day.

Bosch Charleston facility project leader Jay Nuckols said: "Bosch is focused on finding solutions that reduce our manufacturing footprint’s environmental impact.

"We are pleased that the reclaimed water project allows us to preserve natural resources, while at the same time lowering our manufacturing costs."

The facility is the first in the county to use reclaimed water in its manufacturing process.

The recycling system was built as part of a five-year, $120m investment plan announced by Bosch in 2010.

Treated at the county’s treatment works facility, the reclaimed water was previously being released into a local river.

The project was funded by a grant from the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) and matching funds from Dorchester county.

Dorchester county council chairman Bill Hearn said: "Bosch has been a great partner in the community for 40 years and we appreciate the focus on environmental sustainability to ensure a healthy community in the future."

Bosch’s Charleston facility has been in operation since 1974 and manufactures passenger car diesel and gasoline fuel injectors, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control systems.

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Image: The recycling system is expected to conserve 80,000 gallons of wastewater a day. Photo: courtesy of Toa55 / Freedigitalphotos.net.