Also this year, like every March 22nd, Saipem joins the global celebrations of World Water Day, a unique opportunity to reinforce awareness on the topic in the over 70 countries where we are present with sites, projects and execution centers.
World Water Day, held every year since 1993, is an annual United Nations event focusing on the importance of freshwater availability on our planet and its proper management and protection, addressing the attention to the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.
This year’s theme is about the inextricable link between water and climate change, especially how using water more efficiently not only constitutes an advantage in itself but also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Tackling climate change is a top priority for Saipem, and the proper and conscious management is an integral part of our whole environmental strategy. We follow an approach oriented to maximizing the reuse of water, where feasible, and to reducing water consumption in all our operational sites and projects, especially those located in water stressed areas.
A mapping of Saipem sites located in water stressed areas is prepared annually in order to raise awareness within sites and projects. The map is used for addressing suitable initiatives for consumption reduction and impacts mitigation, as well as for identifying proper investment opportunities.
Among the general guidelines of our environmental strategy for sites and project, Saipem treats wastewater, generally reused for dust suppression, irrigation, or hydrotesting, when meeting regulatory limits. Moreover, separation of water systems into drinking and non-drinking water is addressed during the design phase of logistic bases, yards and camps.
One of the most significant water management and efficiency initiatives set up during 2019 is the installation of suitable SWRO (Sea Water Reverse Osmosis) units for Tangguh LNG Expansion Project (TEP) in Papua – Indonesia. These are units that use reverse osmosis to desalinate sea water, thus providing clean water for domestic use as well as for project activities, in a remote area where freshwater resources are very limited. Additionally, TEP project treats and reuses wastewater for dust suppression and irrigation. As a general benefit, during 2019 the total water saved in the project was around 1 million cubic meters.
Again in 2019, Saipem installed a toilet flush water displacement system for Al Zour New Refinery Project (EPC0059) in Kuwait. The system, aimed to reduce the amount of water in toilet flushing, has been implemented by all project subcontractors too. Used by over 7,000 persons, in one year it has brought an estimated water saving of around 10,000 cubic meters, in one of the top water-stressed countries in the world.
These are some examples of our contribution to preserving such a precious resource for all humanity.