Reverse Osmosis Waste Water Recycling

Key learning point: Digitalisation of pathology reporting results in significant social as well as environmental and financial savings.

Setting/Patient Group: Dialysis unit

Issue to be addressed: The project has been inspired by a previous Green Nephrology case highlighting water wastage in dialysis units which was presented at the British Renal Society conference in 2010

Intervention:

Plan for haemodialysis unit to recycle its 'grey' reject water produced by the reverse osmosis plant, which provides the purified water for dialysate. This water will be stored and used for regeneration of the carbon filters within the treatment plant, number of toilets, a sluice area, and a laundry area located in the renal outpatients department.

Outcomes:

Social

• Reduced water wastage benefits wider community

Environmental

• Estimated carbon savings a 0.11648 tonnes CO2e per annum

Economic

• Cost of work £11,030
• Estimated financial savings £3143.96/year, therefore retrofit will have paid for itself within 3 years 6 months.