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Water is the most widely consumed natural resource and the single most essential foundation of human existence. Clean, safe drinking water is scarce. Less than one percent of the water on earth is available for human consumption.
Several of ICL’s major production sites are located in water-stressed regions. Water conservation is, therefore, an inherent part of ICL’s business culture. The Company continuously strives to decrease its use of water, especially potable water. Where possible, the Company’s production sites use brackish water for production processes or other water not suitable as potable water.
In 2021, there were 0 incidents of non-compliance associated with water quality permits, standards, and regulations.
As major production facilities install new air emission filters and scrubbers that require water as part of their standard operation, ICL expects its water consumption to increase somewhat in the next few years. ICL is actively mapping potential water-saving projects, especially concerning freshwater. The ACE program, which was focused on energy-saving projects, has been given a broader mandate and is now focused on water and carbon emissions as well. Note: In the charts below, 2018 appears as the base year used by ICL to measure its long-term performance (in addition to short-term, year by year performance).
Potable water consumption includes grid/tap water and potable well water.
Non-Potable water consumption includes: brine, brackish water, sea water, river water and rainwater.
Note: All figures exclude annual water withdrawal from the Dead Sea, which is regarded as raw material.
Overall ICL global water consumption (potable and non-potable) decreased between 2020 and 2021, with a reduction of 3.4%. The overall decrease in 2021 was mostly due to ceasing some activities at mining operations in Spain and Israel and reducing water consumption at mining operations in England and China. This has impacted the amount of released wastewater.
Approximately 20% of ICL's production plants and 58% of total water consumed were in locations with high or extremely high baseline water stress.
Total global ICL wastewater output decreased by 1% in 2021 vs. 2020.
ICL Rotem is implementing a master plan for wastewater treatment, with the principal goal of reducing effluent quantities by converting some effluents into products, recycling wastewater, reducing water consumption, treating/neutralizing wastewater and restoring wastewater ponds. The plan currently includes additional wastewater streams created by air emission purification processes required by the Israel Clean Air Law. For more information regarding ICL Rotem’s wastewater treatment plan and gypsum storage ponds, see p 108 in ICL’s 2021 Annual Report.
Read MoreSince 2009, YPH has conducted a major project designed to eliminate all wastewater output. This “zero discharge” has been achieved via cascade and grade utilization, recycling collection, reuse systems and other actions. Despite the addition of ICL China YPH JV to the Company’s reporting scope in 2016, total ICL wastewater amounts remained almost the same throughout the years 2016-2017 compared to 2015. This has also enabled a significant decrease in wastewater intensity resulting from phosphate production.
For more details on wastewater reduction projects at ICL sites and regions, see pp. 107-110 of ICL’s 2021 Annual Report.
