You are not logged in You are not logged in to this journal. Log In

Proceedings / Volume 173 / Issue 40792 / ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT IN WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES

LOG IN or SELECT A PURCHASE OPTION:

Determining the “True Cost of Water” in an Automotive Manufacturing Plant

ASCE Conf. Proc. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/40792(173)68

Impacts of Global Climate Change
Proceedings of World Water and Environmental Resources Congress 2005
Luis Garcilaso1, William Gaines2, and Brian D. Barkdoll1

1Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, Michigan Tech University, Houghton, MI 49931
2Ford Motor Company, Environmental Quality Office, 950 PLTW, Three Parklane Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48126

Buy this book

  • Abstract
The cost of water consumption has ramifications throughout many areas of our society. This is equally true whether the user be residential, commercial, or industrial. The true cost of water includes many factors beyond simply the purchased water cost. It includes heating, cooling, initial and final treatment(s), and pumping costs. In addition to the direct and indirect costs incurred by the user, there are external costs to society from water quality degradation caused by the use and disposal of water. ‘Eco‐Efficiency Analysis” provides a powerful tool to better quantify the true cost of water by considering both the economic and environmental life cycle impacts of a product or process. This allows the creation of an Eco‐Efficiency Portfolio by utilizing an overall weighting system. The ratio of economic benefit to ecological change can then be more accurately examined. By doing so, a quantitative decision can be made to determine which water use alternative provides the greatest cost‐effective, sustainability. While initial capital costs may be greater under some circumstances, educating consumers of the sustainable manner in which water is being used can result in increased sales and, therefore, profit. The approach for calculating the true cost of water for an automobile plant is described here. Future research will focus on implementing the described approach in an automobile assembly plant.

© 2005 ASCE

KEYWORDS

ASCE SUBJECT HEADINGS

Costs, Industrial plants, Water use

ARTICLE DATA

Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/40792(173)68

PUBLICATION DATA

ISBN:

0-7844-0792-4

Publisher

ASCE

Close

Your Recent History Recent History Help

Recently Viewed

  1. Determining the “True Cost of Water” in an Automotive Manufacturing Plant
  2. Desalination Emerging as a Potential Water Supply in California
  3. Situation and Prospect of Urban Stream Restoration in Korea
  4. Rootwads and Stone Deflectors—1 Year Later
  5. Flooding Analysis Using HEC‐RAS
close