Our biggest water use is at our bulk chemical manufacturing sites, where water is used to produce contrast media, polysaccharides and separation media. We also purify water for injection requirements, mainly used in x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging contrast media products. Although none of our principal manufacturing sites is in a water-stressed region, we recognise the benefits of conserving water.

A number of sites have worked to reduce water use, which resulted in a decrease in the total amount of water used in 2001 (despite an overall increase in production during the year).

The environmental impact of our discharges is minimal at most locations and therefore many sites are not subject to strict regulatory limits. The main parameters listed on regulatory consents are pH and temperature. Neutralisation systems have been installed at a number of sites to meet pH discharge requirements.

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) – the amount of oxygen required to break down organic compounds – is a significant parameter at only a few of our sites. Complete COD data are only available from 2000 onwards.

All wastewater from our sites is discharged to wastewater treatment plants, except at Lindesnes, Norway where discharges are direct to the sea. An independent biological survey of the receiving water concluded that the sea bed fauna in the vicinity of the discharge point is healthy and diverse, and that the discharges are not having any detrimental effect. We plan to conduct another study of the discharge area within the next two years.

Example projects

• Lindesnes in Norway installed additional control equipment that has reduced the concentration of organic chemicals in the wastewater.
  
  
• Saluggia in Italy installed a pH control system to neutralise effluents released from the resin regeneration process.
  
  
• Staffanstorp in Sweden has reduced water use by about 20% in 2001 due to improvements in the production process.