Water & Wastewater
Water is the most widely consumed natural resource and the single most essential foundation of our existence. Clean, safe drinking water is scarce. Less than one percent of the water on earth is available for human consumption.
Several of ICL’s major production sites are located in water-stressed regions. Water conservation is, therefore, an inherent part of ICL’s business culture. The company continuously strives to decrease its use of water, especially potable water. Where possible, our production sites use brackish water for production processes or other water not suitable as potable water.
ICL expects its water consumption to increase somewhat in the next few years, as major production facilities place new air emission filters and scrubbers that require water as part of their standard operation.
Note: In the charts below, 2008 appears as the base year used by ICL to measure our long-term performance (in addition to short-term, year by year performance).
Note: All figures exclude annual water withdrawal from the Dead Sea, which is regarded as raw material. Read more
Total Potable water consumption has decreased by 5% in 2018, while non-potable water consumption has increased by 3%. Both trends were mostly due to increased availability of non-potable water adequate for the production processes at ICL Rotem and ICL YPH, replacing some of the potable water used in 2017.
Wastewater
In 2018 the amount of output wastewater remained almost constant compared to 2017. Previously, an 8.7% increase occurred in the amount of wastewater in 2017 compared to 2016 due to an increase in runoff (rainwater) measured and released into the sea at ICL UK Boulby. The inclusion of YPH JV in 2016 in our scope of reporting did not create major fluctuations in our wastewater quantities due to its “zero discharge” policy.
- ICL Rotem is implementing a master plan for treating waste with the principal goal of reducing effluent quantities, transforming a portion of effluents into products, recycling wastewater, reducing water consumption, treating wastewater and neutralizing and restoring wastewater reservoirs.
- ICL Neot Hovav treats sanitary effluents on site. The treated wastewater flows as an input fluid and is re-used in our cooling towers. In addition, the site has constructed a facility to treat industrial wastewater.
- In Europe, ICL sites have established systems to ensure compliance with emission limits. Wastewater is partly pretreated and sent to municipalities and third parties for final treatment prior to their discharge. ICl Iberia has launched a multi‑year program to restore salt deposits, while paying close attention to the issue of wastewater drainage and sludge treatment.
Zero Discharge @ YPH JV
Since 2009, YPH has conducted a major project designed to eliminate all wastewater output. This “zero discharge” project has been achieved via cascade and grade utilization, recycling collection, reuse systems and other actions. Despite the addition of ICL China YPH JV- to our reporting scope in 2016, total ICL wastewater amounts have remained almost the same in 2016-2017 compared with 2015. This has also enabled a significant decrease in wastewater intensity resulting from phosphate production.
