Sustainable water management actions taken by Intel Corporation have earned the company an Ecoimagination Award from GE. The award recognizes companies and customers that implement innovative solutions driving business value and environmental benefit.

An ultra-pure water system supplies a chip fabrication facility. (Source: Intel)

When completed, a new water recycling project at Intel’s Ronler Acres campus in Hillsboro, OR, will have the potential to recycle over a billion gallons of water annually while also improving the quality of water that leaves the facility. The system will recycle industrial water discharged from manufacturing processes for reuse in cooling towers, scrubbers, and abatement equipment. Water discharged to the municipal wastewater treatment system will also be cooler and cleaner.

Intel’s sustainable water strategy emphasizes investments in innovative water conservation practices within its global operations. Since 1998, the company has conserved more than 52 billion gallons of water. In 2015, it saved 820 million gallons of water in Oregon through water conservation efforts.

The company also returns a significant portion of water used back to local communities. In 2015, Intel returned 80% of the water it used in Oregon.