An indicator framework approach on manufacturing water assessment towards sustainable water demand management

Abstract

Population growth, industrialization, urbanization and change of life style have increased global water demand. Although agricultural water demand accounts as the largest overall user, emerging economics causes industrial and domestic water demand to increase tremendously especially in developing countries. One sector that contributes to rapid industrial demand is manufacturing sector. Despite many assessment methods being used in the past, it has been seen that measurement of manufacturing water use performance could only be done for specific manufacturing factory or specific industries. Due to lack of a holistic framework towards assessment water performance in any given manufacturing factory, this paper introduces an indicator-framework called Malaysia Manufacturing Industry Water Benchmarking System (MIWABS). This indicator framework was developed based on relevant sets of indicators arranged under sustainability pillars criteria. MIWABS uses stakeholder-driven approach whereby the established indicators and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) assigning weightage were done through workshops and questionnaires. Rubber glove and semiconductor industries were chosen as demonstration study to validate the indicator-framework. The results highlighted the importance to emphasize on recycling water in manufacturing facilities. Besides that, manufacturing factories shall also explore other water alternatives such as groundwater and river to cater for their factory and production needs to reduce the dependency of potable water by public water operator. It is hoped that MIWABS can give input and policy direction as part of water demand management strategies in Malaysia.