Conserving Arizona’s water one drop and one major initiative at a time

Paige Bensen

Submitted photo/TSMC Arizona

Dr. Paul Westerhoff, a regents professor at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, says using reclaimed industrial water directly in chip manufacturing is the holy grail of water conservation.”

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OPINION — Water is always top of mind for Arizonans, and that has never been truer than now.

Our state stands to lose 760,000 acre-feet of water each year beginning in 2027 due to mandatory cuts to the Colorado River water supply under a plan from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. That’s the equivalent of 247.6 billion gallons, which can supply water to 1.5 million to 2.3 million homes for a year.

While state and municipal leaders negotiate for more-modest cuts to Arizona’s water supply under the new Colorado River plan, they also continue to find ways to conserve this precious resource one drop and one major initiative at a time. This includes investing in advanced water recycling efforts and aquifer storage, diversifying water delivery through the Central Arizona Project as well as Salt River and Verde River water, and launching cooperative regional water-sharing initiatives.

Companies like ours are doing their part, too. Our commitment to sustainability isn't a knee-jerk reaction but a long-term strategy reflected in our longstanding commitment to strengthen environmental protection.

Manufacturing semiconductor chips that fuel the future is undeniably water intensive. Yet, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is a leader in water conservation, implementing the world’s only sustainable water-management standard established by the Alliance for Water Stewardship.

Locally, TSMC Arizona is recycling 65% of the water used at its Phoenix campus. The company reuses water in its equipment chillers and air-abatement systems. Company leaders have an even bigger aspiration: 90% or better water reclamation.

Construction of TSMC Arizona’s Industrial Reclamation Water Plant is under way. When completed, this industrial plant will help TSMC Arizona achieve near-zero liquid discharge. This means the site will be able to reuse nearly every drop of water in site operations, including returning water to its necessary ultrapure state for the semiconductor manufacturing process. Reusing water in this way reduces even further the daily water needed from the city of Phoenix supply.

Dr. Paul Westerhoff, a regents professor at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, says using reclaimed industrial water directly in chip manufacturing is the holy grail of water conservation.

That’s true, but this is just the start. Utilities, regulators, policymakers, manufacturers and communities all play a vital role in managing water, energy and infrastructure.

Phoenix has made water sustainability a top priority by investing in smart irrigation technology to make its green spaces more efficient while preserving amenities that residents love.

This year, TSMC Arizona awarded a $115,000 water-efficiency grant to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to support significant irrigation system upgrades at Madison and Los Olivos parks in central Phoenix. This includes installing new smart irrigation controllers, master valves and flow sensors.

These modern tools equip the parks with automated water management and rapid response to system issues that stop cycles during rain events, leading to immediate and permanent water savings. For every skipped irrigation cycle, approximately 81,000 gallons of water will be saved. In addition, staff can remotely stop irrigation cycles, ensuring more responsive and efficient water use.

Small steps like this, combined with big initiatives like the thoughtful water-efficiency design of TSMC Arizona’s north Phoenix operations, will help preserve our state’s water supply for generations to come.

Paige Bensen is a water process engineer at TSMC Arizona. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.