Reimagining industrial water: From commodity to strategic asset

Across industries, water is the backbone of production – from processing raw materials to supplying boilers and cooling systems. But rising demand, tightening regulations, and growing water scarcity are forcing companies to rethink how water is sourced, treated and reused.

By 2030, global water demand is projected to outpace supply by 40%. Many municipal systems are already at their limits, and alternative sources of clean water are challenging to find, restricting industrial growth. In this environment, companies that treat and reuse water aren’t just improving sustainability – they’re gaining a competitive edge.

Xylem’s new white paper, Reimagining industrial water: From commodity to strategic asset, shows how forward-thinking manufacturers are turning water challenges into cost savings, resource recovery, and long-term resilience with advanced water treatment technologies.

Here's how three manufacturers are implementing smart, adaptive water technologies to cut costs, reduce environmental impact, and support growth. 

AB Mauri turns waste into clean energy

AB Mauri, one of the world’s largest producers of baking ingredients, built a new state-of-the-art yeast manufacturing plant in Veracruz, Mexico. As part of the project, the company needed a wastewater treatment solution that could meet strict discharge limits, enable water reuse, and turn organic matter into biogas.

Working with Xylem’s ADI Systems, AB Mauri installed a custom-designed treatment system that combines anaerobic and aerobic processes to clean the wastewater while generating biogas. A sequencing batch reactor further treats the water for safe discharge or recycling on site.

The solution allows the facility to stay compliant, reuse treated water, and power one of its boilers with biogas. At its Tucumán plant in Argentina, AB Mauri has taken the same approach, replacing about 18,700 MWh of fossil fuel energy each year with biogas – roughly the annual usage of 1,700 U.S. homes.

Silfex recycles up to 80% of cleanroom wastewater

In Springfield, Ohio, Silfex, a Lam Research company, makes precision parts for the semiconductor industry, which requires huge amounts of ultrapure water for cleaning and manufacturing. After production, this water contains small amounts of chemicals and particles and can’t be reused without treatment.

Silfex installed advanced membrane technology to capture and clean this used water, along with water from its reverse osmosis system. This allowed the company to recover high-quality water that would otherwise be discarded.

The improvements reduced ultrapure water system waste by 15% and made it possible to recycle up to 80% of cleanroom wastewater. When leveraged together, the upgrades result in millions of gallons of water saved every year, reducing the company’s reliance on municipal supplies.

Texas microelectronics facility keeps production on track with water management services

In Sherman, Texas, a new microelectronics facility urgently needed high-purity rinse water to begin production before its permanent treatment infrastructure was ready. Traditional construction timelines and permitting requirements made it difficult to meet startup goals without a temporary solution.

The facility partnered with Xylem to deploy a water management services model. Within weeks, Xylem’s AQUA Pro experts installed three containerized treatment systems – combining pretreatment, reverse osmosis, and ultrapure polishing – to deliver reliable water quality as soon as possible while construction was still underway.

Delivered under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) agreement, the turnkey solution helped the customer avoid upfront capital costs while ensuring compliance and uptime. Continuous on-site support and remote monitoring kept operations optimized, while the success of the temporary systems created a blueprint for the permanent treatment design – demonstrating how modular, service-based solutions can help industrial facilities stay agile and resilient.

Industrial water reuse solutions for a prosperous, sustainable future

Industrial water reuse is entering a new phase – one where smarter, more flexible treatment approaches give companies the control they need to manage risk, reduce costs, and stay productive. Advanced biological and membrane systems, paired with service-ready models like water management services, help industries meet tougher standards without slowing operations.

Digital tools make the impact even stronger. Intelligent controls and predictive monitoring help operators optimize performance in real time, cut chemical and energy use, and adapt to changing conditions with confidence.

When industries combine innovative treatment with digital intelligence, they protect their operations and preserve the water they rely on. It’s a path that strengthens local economies, supports business growth, and conserves resources – advancing the shared goal of a more prosperous and sustainable future.