Saving Water Through Manufacturing
The water recycling project is part of Spirit AeroSystem’s self-imposed commitment to the environment. This commitment seems to be more than the usual lip-service, as the company claims it has recycled upwards of 11 billion gallons of water since 1998 and an average of two million gallons per day in 2016. The new Wichita recycling project is projected to increase this average to three million gallons of recycled water daily.
If you’re following the numbers, that means Spirit will purchase at least a million gallons of recycled water per day from the City of Wichita. The new recycling effort is expected to decrease Spirit’s total potable water usage by 70 percent, a plus for both the company and the city.
"This project is symbiotically beneficial for everyone in our community," said Wichita mayor Jeff Longwell. "We are going to recycle water and safeguard our crucial water supply for years to come, while saving Spirit and taxpayer money.”
Manufacturing Sustainability and Efficiency
In addition to helping the environment, the water recycling project will offer benefits to the manufacturing facility itself. Spirit AeroSystems CEO Tom Gentile commented on the necessity of self-improvement in the industry.
"Advanced aerospace manufacturing requires that we continually improve and innovate to stay globally competitive," he said. "Spirit's partnership with the City of Wichita produced an innovative water recycling solution that allows us to run our factory more efficiently while conserving up to 500 million gallons of water each year.”
To learn more about Spirit Aerosystems, check out Components Delivered for 500th Boeing 787 Dreamliner.