Toward Sustainable Water Use in Manufacturing NRE 701 Master’s Project Prospectus

Water and Manufacturing Pressure on global freshwater supplies is growing Pressure on global freshwater supplies is growing Between 20%-30% of the world’s freshwater use is devoted to industry Between 20%-30% of the world’s freshwater use is devoted to industry Industry plays a critical role in the changing quantity and quality of global freshwater supplies Industry plays a critical role in the changing quantity and quality of global freshwater supplies

Water and Manufacturing Significant challenges exist with respect to sustainable industrial water use and consumption Significant challenges exist with respect to sustainable industrial water use and consumption Technology, policy, economic, and management aspects Technology, policy, economic, and management aspects Particularly relevant in the Great Lakes region Particularly relevant in the Great Lakes region

Project Essence Research: current state of industrial water use in Great Lakes region Research: current state of industrial water use in Great Lakes region Analyze/recommend: desired future state Analyze/recommend: desired future state Develop: program to achieve future state Develop: program to achieve future state Develop: metrics to evaluate progress Develop: metrics to evaluate progress Practical Application: apply the program, working with industrial client(s) Practical Application: apply the program, working with industrial client(s)

Possible Research Questions Which industry sector, company, or facility is “best in class” with respect to water use? What are the reasons or drivers behind these (apparently) successful programs to reduce water use? Which industry sector, company, or facility is “best in class” with respect to water use? What are the reasons or drivers behind these (apparently) successful programs to reduce water use? What barriers prevent companies from being more proactive with respect to reducing manufacturing water use? What can be done to overcome these barriers? What barriers prevent companies from being more proactive with respect to reducing manufacturing water use? What can be done to overcome these barriers?

Possible Research Questions What innovative policy instruments or management practices can be used to change the way industry thinks about water? What innovative policy instruments or management practices can be used to change the way industry thinks about water? What are the appropriate indicators to monitor progress towards sustainable use of water resources? What are the appropriate indicators to monitor progress towards sustainable use of water resources?