In today’s environment, water issues are becoming increasingly critical to process feasibility, reliability and operability. Characterized by a keen focus on working closely with customers to solve complex water related challenges, GE Integrated Water Solutions (IWS) team comprises a diverse group of senior level engineers with deep domain experience in developing comprehensive process solutions to water challenges for our global clients. IWS is distinguished by a consistent focus on solutions that consider a facility’s complete water infrastructure – including root cause analysis, solutions development and assistance during the execution phase. The IWS team specializes in reducing the water footprint and optimizing the capital and operating expenses of our customers’ facilities.

Engineers within IWS represent a broad spectrum of industry specific experience – primary metals, power generation, hydrocarbon production and processing, chemical processing and mining are all major industries strongly represented within the senior level team. The overall team consists of Principal Process and Senior Process Engineers, who are all industry-recognized experts in their respective fields. IWS engineers assist in reducing a site’s planned or existing water footprint, and water processing project capital and operating costs. Existing facilities facing a new operating environment – such as increases in production capacity without corresponding increases in available water supply or water processing capacity; tighter environmental regulations such as new limits on discharge water quality not achievable with the existing process infrastructure; or water shortages where reuse economic and environmental drivers are exaggerated – represent scenarios where IWS can create substantial value.

Recognizing that customers’ needs vary greatly by industry and region, IWS provides Water Management Services – a comprehensive review of all plant water systems’ existing facilities in order to resolve water issues – and New Construction Services – including system-wide water and salt balances and process engineering reviews on new construction projects.

Water Management Services help customers identify, evaluate, develop and implement customized solutions for optimizing water utilization. This systematic approach covers the entire water system, including supply water sourcing and treatment, optimizing water use, minimizing wastewater generation, water recycling and reuse, and minimizing energy consumed by the water treatment systems. These assessment services help maximize “return on environment” in finding ways for companies to use less and waste less water – which is imperative to creating a sustainable water supply for the future.

New Construction Project Support provides developers of new projects with comprehensive technical and commercial solutions for a variety of challenges they face, including site selection and/or multiple water supply and discharge scenarios; discharge permitting and regulatory obstacles; design and technology selection and optimization; risk reduction and increased return on capital strategies. We’ve completed more than 1,000 new construction projects since 1986.

The team of IWS experts has an average of nearly 30 years of experience in the industry and works hand-in-hand with the commercial teams by providing a full, holistic analysis of where a customer’s deepest needs lie along with a portfolio of recommended options to help solve their challenges. The commercial team, which has very specialized knowledge in the Equipment Services and Chemical Monitoring Solutions areas, is then engaged for continued partnership. IWS focuses primarily on the heavy industry markets of power generation, steel, hydrocarbon refining, chemical processing, food and beverage, and mining because of the quantity of water needed and the complexity of the water issues faced in these industries.

For examples of cross-industry case studies and projects the IWS team has worked on, please click here.