Water consumption

Grupa Kęty S.A. (the EPS) withdraws water from its own water intakes, i.e. from a well and from ground drainage. The well is a source of drinking water for the plant and for the employee amenities. In addition, the water is used for fire safety purposes. Water for the production processes originates mainly from ground drainage at the plant and is collected by way of a drainage system. Water resources are used pursuant to the possessed water permit. Analyses of the impact of water withdrawal confirm that the respective activities do not significantly affect the availability of water resources. Owing to the processes of chemical treatment of aluminium, the deficit of water resources is probably one of the potentially major risks, which may result in higher costs of production. Therefore, we have implemented and plan to implement measures aiming at better use of water resources. Of key importance was the implementation of the intake of water for production purposes from ground drainage, thanks to which we have limited the consumption of underground water. Earlier, the water drained at the plant was lost irrecoverably. Moreover, water recirculation system was developed. Water in the systems is heated during the heating processes related to aluminium melting and processing, and afterwards the water is cooled and returned to production. In this way, the plant saves approximately 4 million m³ of water per year. We are also experienced in storm water utilisation, as collected from the roofs of buildings, which we also direct to the closed-circuit water system. In 2021, we repaired and sealed the water mains line to the plant, which will contribute to losses elimination. Currently, we have been implementing the strategy of water management in the subsequent years. It will cover further optimisation of water management as well as implementation of new engineering systems and tools. We have planned to build a new hall for two press lines to extrude aluminium profiles, which will be furnished with special retention basins enabling intercepting and using storm water from roofs and other impervious surfaces. We also see potential in recycling storm water by way of modifying the current drainage system. The use of storm water will help satisfy the needs related to the future production of the plant and avoid the negative consequences of climate change.

The ASS and the FPS plants do not have their own water intakes. Water is purchased from third-party suppliers on the basis of appropriate agreements. Water is used for engineering and social purposes. Water consumption is monitored within the ISO 14001 system procedures. At the ASS and the FPS activities have been continuously carried out to reduce water consumption as a function of production size. The water consumption index per production unit has been gradually decreasing.

With regard to the nature of production, water reuse in large quantities refers to the EPS and the FPS companies. For that purpose closed-circuits have been applied to recycle water from production processes and limit the use of environment in that regard. The effect is achieved by cooling and recirculation of water in heating processes. Closed-circuit systems allow for substantial savings in terms of water consumption. Only for the purpose of maintaining the quality of products, some of the water is discharged periodically and supplemented with fresh water. In order to increase the total volume of recycled water, the EPS introduced a common drainage system at the roofs of the selected production halls, which is connected to circulation water return sump. During rainfall water from the roof supplements the evaporated water and refreshes water in the closed circuit. Additionally, the system of water supplementation and discharge has been automated.

Our objective is to maintain or increase the share of water re-used for production processes in closed circuits compared to the total volume of water consumed. Specifically at the FPS, by limitation of water consumption in the process of polypropylene film production and replacing semi-closed circuits with completely closed ones.