Furniture manufacturing water use and effluent reduction
Methods which furniture manufacturers should consider to help reduce water use and limit the production of effluent.
Furniture manufacturers are likely to produce a wide range of effluent (liquid waste) including:
- boiler blowdown
- air compressor condensate
- vehicle wash-down water
- veneer press wash-down effluent
- water back booth effluent from coating booths
- hazardous waste water from solvents, oil and separator sludges
Eliminating and reducing effluent is usually the most cost-effective option and the best for the environment. However, where this is not possible, you should consider other options for dealing with it such as reuse and recovery. Look at your processes and analyse where you can change these to reduce effluent production.
You must ensure you have appropriate consent to discharge effluent into surface water drains or sewers.
Reduce water consumption in furniture manufacturing
You are likely to use water in a number of ways in your business. Reducing your water use will lower the costs you pay to get water supplied and wastewater disposed of. You should establish an action plan that prioritises which areas of your water use you should tackle first.
If you use significant quantities of water in washrooms, catering facilities or for vehicle cleaning, see how to save water at commercial premises.
If you use significant quantities of water during rinsing, cleaning and other industrial processes, see how to save water at industrial premises.