Kelly Osborne, Senior Staff Engineer, Intel Corporation

Photographs courtesy of Intel Corporation

Kelly Osborne will speak alongside Google’s Anthony Giovannone about water positivity in tech at the 2024 Industrial Water Reuse Conference, November 19-21, 2024 in Indian Wells, California.

It’s only September, but I’m already looking forward to November when I will speak at the WateReuse Association’s Industrial Reuse Specialty Conference: The Road to Water Positivity in Indian Wells, CA about the great water reuse partnership between Intel and the City of Chandler, Arizona. I hope you will join me there!

It’s hard to imagine but Intel’s Ocotillo Brine Reduction Facility (OBRF) in Chandler is almost 30 years old – an early example of industrial water reuse and smart planning. The semiconductor manufacturing process requires very high-quality water, so Intel must use several processes including reverse osmosis to treat drinking water before it can be used for manufacturing.  A by-product is brine that requires additional treatment before it can be reused. The OBRF treats this brine (or rejected water) and sends it back to our plant to be reused in our industrial systems! The OBRF can treat up to 2.8 million gallons of water a day and recovers 96% of this amount for reuse. That helps alleviate pressure on the City of Chandler, which like all local governments across the Southwest is conscious of its water consumption. In fact, over the years, Intel has discussed the ways in which this can be a model in the industrial field as a way to protect the water supply for future generations while also investing in economic growth to continue providing good paying jobs.

Intel and the City of Chandler meet regularly to discuss any potential improvements, new projects, issues that may arise, and/or ways in which we can help each other improve our water resource management – a key part of our ability to keep the entire project functioning smoothly. This open communication helps define the success of this partnership. This kind of sustainability effort is key to minimizing disruption to our water supply, ensure reliability, and plan for a water resilient future!

I hope to see you at The Road to Water Positivity Conference in Indian Wells this November to discuss this project and other facets of the growing industrial water reuse field.

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse California welcome The University of Southern California ReWater Center. The ReWater Center is a team of academic researchers alongside industrial, municipal, and government partners solving the public health, energy, and sustainability challenges of potable water reuse. Faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students work collaboratively to address the global challenge of water scarcity. The ReWater Center pursues research that balances water quality objectives with energy, nutrient, and resource extraction, as well as environmental aspects associated of residuals disposal. In addition to engineering and science research, the ReWater Center is advancing education, engaging with practitioners, communicating with the public, and facilitating interaction amongst the potable reuse community.

WateReuse Association’s Florida Section (WRFL) is seeking a part-time Managing Director. The managing director will provide leadership and management of daily WRFL operations and services, including oversight of WRFL-sponsored events and activities. Florida residency is required. The mission of WRFL is to inspire and empower Florida communities and businesses to maximize water recycling through WRFL’s advocacy, education, outreach, and promotion of innovation and technology. 

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November 19-21, 2024 | Indian Wells, CA

The engines of industry, from Fortune 1000 companies to local businesses, are traveling down The Road to Water Positivity. The 2024 Industrial Reuse Conference is your ticket to ride. Panel discussions, breakout roundtables, and three keynote presenters will examine how water reuse can help businesses ensure operational resiliency and meet water management goals. 

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