Courtesy Organica-Sustainable Water.
This Organica treatment and reuse facility at Foxconn in Shenzhen, China, produces reclaimed water suitable for use on-site in central chiller and steam plants
and as industrial process water.
In 2010, Foxconn installed an
Organica treatment facility. At a mere
10,000 sq ft, the facility was designed to
produce 800,000 gal of clean, reusable
water every day – relying exclusively on
solar power. Reclaimed water is used
on-site in central chiller and steam
plants, and for industrial process water.
Beyond meeting Foxconn’s sanitary
treatment and water supply needs, the
greenhouse provides a lush space as
an alternative to the more typical drab,
industrial treatment facility atmosphere.
Unlike other treatment technologies, its
small footprint and aesthetic, odorless
design allow it to be located within a
dense urban environment.
Industry Implications
Less than 1 percent of the world’s
water is available for drinking, and
as global water demand continues to
grow, freshwater supply will become an
increasingly scarce and expensive com-
modity. As an industry dependent on
water, district energy faces significant
risks associated with a diminishing water
supply. As leaders in the sustainability
movement, cities and campuses with
district energy (including universities,
medical facilities, office parks and other
commercial and urban development)
must begin taking a more comprehensive
approach to resource management.
Jonathan Lanciani is cofounder and president of Organica-Sustainable Water, which utilizes an innovative ngineered ecosystem to treat and recycle water on-site. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the North American water industry, with
executive employment at both Betz Laboratories and
Chem Treat. An active member of IDEA, he has championed water conservation and reuse opportunities
throughout his career and serves as a consultant to
higher education, industry and various nonprofit organizations. Lanciani holds a mechanical engineering
degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He may be reached at jonathan.lanciani@o-sw.com.
Don Safrit, PE, is a senior techni- cal specialist for McKim & Creed Inc. The firm, which has been involved with numerous water euse projects, is the specialized consultant utilized by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to
plan, design and assist with implementation of its
award-winning water reuse system. Safrit has been
actively involved in water reuse, including the development of water reuse regulations for the state of
North Carolina. Safrit holds a chemical engineering
degree from North Carolina State University in
Raleigh and professional licensure in five states.
He may be contacted at Dsafrit@mckimcreed.com.
