Water for both industrial and mining uses comes from public supplies, surface water sources, and groundwater. Industrial water uses include cooling in factories and washing and rinsing in manufacturing processes. Some of the major water-use industries include mining, steel, paper and associated products, and chemicals and associated products.
Between 1985 and 1990, industrial water use in the United States decreased approximately 13%. In the same period, mining water use increased about 24% (Dzurik 1990).
Self-supplied industrial uses of water accounted for 45.3 bgd of the total water withdrawn in 1980. The total gross water utilized by industries amounts to 2.2 times the amount withdrawn since the water utilized is extensively recirculated.
Demand projections for the industrial sector do not indicate an increase in water needs. However, consumption in manufacturing processes in all water resources regions is expected to increase by the year 2000 as a result of the widespread use of recycling and recirculation practices as well as a projected increase in manufacturing production.
Federal water quality regulations regarding wastewater discharges have been the primary impetus for reduction of industrial demand. This reduction has been brought about mainly through water reuse, recycling of internal wastewater, and water use reduction measures. The reuse and recirculation of wastewater is restricted by the economic feasibility of reuse and the quality of the recycled water for industrial processes. (Dzurik 1990)
indsup.htm
Institute of Water Research, Michigan
State University
Last Revision: January 28, 1997