“The industrial use of water is one of the largest uses of treated water, and increasing water scarcity has driven companies to seek out new ways to purify water and promote water reuse that are cost-effective and environmentally conscious,” says Snehal Desai, global business director for Dow Water & Process Solutions.

As the world prepares to celebrate this year’s United Nations World Water Day on March 23, companies such as Dow seek to educate industrial, commercial and residential consumers about ways to lessen our water-energy "splashprint” through technology that helps us conserve.

For industrial processors, Dow points to its Filmtec ECO reverse osmosis elements, which are reportedly helping to deliver manufacturers 40 percent better water purification while using 30 percent less energy. Utility providers are reducing chemical usage and improving power production time. Electronic manufacturers are increasing water purity for higher performing tablets, smartphones and computers. Even brewers are using the RO elements to brew beer more sustainably.

According to the company, the RO elements are helping to save water and energy while also helping to reduce operational costs in facilities by 16 to 19 percent. In the first 10 years of use, the elements will produce 15 trillion m3 of clean water while providing more than 2 billion kWh of energy savings and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1.5 million metric tons.

Dow helps people around the globe process more than 15 million gallons of water per minute.