Local manufacturers that use more than one million gallons of water per year or more are invited to take part in a special project to assess their water consumption. Industries that volunteer for the project will receive technical assistance from an international consulting firm on improving efficiency in managing water, which could help them save money.

“Our population is growing, water resources are limited, and how we manage the water we use will impact supplies in the future,” said Rick Bossingham, an assistant commissioner with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM’s) Office of Compliance Support. “This project to look at water preservation and pollution prevention will help the environment and industry by identifying ways to reduce unnecessary water consumption, waste and costs.”  

IDEM obtained a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to fund the project. Facilities that are selected for assessments will work directly with SES Environmental, a private consulting firm that IDEM has hired to manage the project. SES has worked with industries in the United States, in Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe to do similar assessments using an approach known as the Water Preservation and Pollution Prevention Program. 

Four to six facilities will be selected. The project group must include at least one facility that employs less than 200 employees, at least one facility that employs between 200 and 500 employees, and at least one facility that employs more than 500 employees. Preference will be given to facilities that discharge wastewater in areas of municipal wastewater treatment facilities that are near or at capacity. The project is scheduled to be completed by mid-summer of 2013. SES will prepare and provide to each participating facility a free pollution prevention assessment. The project is being conducted independent of IDEM compliance programs. IDEM will not initiate compliance review or conduct inspections based on inquiries about, or participation, in this project.   

Companies that are interested in volunteering for the project or have questions should contact Robert Kahle, Senior Project Director with SES, at (260) 497-7645 or INWaterPilot@sesadvantage.com, by Monday, February 25, 2013. Questions may also be directed to Maria Renner, with IDEM’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance, at (317) 234-5286, toll free at (800) 451-6027, ext. 4-5286, or via e-mail at mrenner@idem.IN.gov.

About IDEM

IDEM (www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.

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