growth in industrial settlements. Rough estimations based on development planning ambitions
of the Iranian government suggests that water
consumption will be more than doubled to 62
million m
3 /a by 2025 (Raber and Mohajeri
2017). With the above mentioned hypothesis of
the possibility of 100% wastewater reuse and
further feasibility and full application of model
scenario 1 for new industrial parks developments
in the Zayandeh Rud up to 9 million m
3 /a, by
application of model scenario 2: 13 million m
3 /a
and through linking example scenario 3: 15
million m
3 /a water may be saved in comparison
to industrial development without any reuse
concepts in industrial parks.
The water saving potentials are different in
each linking scenario. At the same time, the
water conservation possibilities change not only
through the different types of linkages but also
depend on the sector specific water balances of
the products. The water saving potential can be
increased by lower evaporation rates. For large
evaporation rates, it is important to consider
whether the water can be avoided or even
recovered e.g. by condensation. Theoretically,
the savings potential can also be increased by
linking different scenarios.
After the development of EIP scenarios, a
workshop was held with planners, operators and
decision makers of industrial parks in Isfahan,
Iran. In the following points, critical factors and
challenges for the practical implementation of
industrial symbiosis were identified and are presented here with possible solutions:
• Economic incentives,
• Change of the business philosophy,
• Conflicts in the exchange process,
• Discontinuation or failure of a linked industry,
• Distance between industries,
• Data basis for planning process.
Economic incentives: Based on the results of
interviews and workshops, most of the Iranian
companies in the implementation of EIPs are
concerned that there are no economic incentives
for the industries. Currently, the costs of energy
are very low and the water is almost free of
charge. Separate groundwater wells need only
one license, which costs a one-time fee. There are
currently no additional charges for water withdrawal. It is assumed that the investment costs
for linking the industries are too large to be
overcome without additional economic incentives. The possibility to change water prices is in
the hands of regional policy makers. Another
approach is to create economic incentives in
industrial parks and to let industries pay a fixed
amount per month and provide a rebate
depending on the degree of environmental
friendliness. In the best case, where production is
highly environmentally friendly, the industry has
the entire amount refunded. The level of environmental friendliness is to be assessed by means
of benchmarking, taking into account both
specific water consumption, the origin of the
water used and the reuse of wastewater. With
either of these approaches to creating an economic incentive, it is assumed that the investment costs will no longer be seen as an inhibiting
factor and can be easily amortized. In addition to
creating a water price, it will be necessary to
significantly reduce the number of groundwater
wells. There are two options for better controlling the actual water withdrawal: (a) to change
the decentralized water supply system into a
central water supply system, or (b) metering
systems for wells. This increases the economic
incentive for companies to save water.
Upgrading the business philosophy: The
change of business philosophy to “nature as a
symbiosis model” (Dasgupta 2008) is viewed as
critical since it is assumed that the industries are
not interested in the environment. All in all, there
is a way of focusing on the company and the
potential maximization of profits. Sustainability
does not yet play a role in most industries. In order
to implement the idea of nature as a symbiosis
model, the company assumes that without political guidelines, only minor changes will take place.
To speed up the process of rethinking the idea that
the industrial park management has a focus on
“natural cycles as model” and in this way create
awareness for the benefits of the symbiosis.
Conflicts in the exchange process: Critical
conflicts are seen in the exchange process. The
Nexus-Oriented Approach for Sharing Water Resources …
217
of the Iranian government suggests that water
consumption will be more than doubled to 62
million m
3 /a by 2025 (Raber and Mohajeri
2017). With the above mentioned hypothesis of
the possibility of 100% wastewater reuse and
further feasibility and full application of model
scenario 1 for new industrial parks developments
in the Zayandeh Rud up to 9 million m
3 /a, by
application of model scenario 2: 13 million m
3 /a
and through linking example scenario 3: 15
million m
3 /a water may be saved in comparison
to industrial development without any reuse
concepts in industrial parks.
The water saving potentials are different in
each linking scenario. At the same time, the
water conservation possibilities change not only
through the different types of linkages but also
depend on the sector specific water balances of
the products. The water saving potential can be
increased by lower evaporation rates. For large
evaporation rates, it is important to consider
whether the water can be avoided or even
recovered e.g. by condensation. Theoretically,
the savings potential can also be increased by
linking different scenarios.
After the development of EIP scenarios, a
workshop was held with planners, operators and
decision makers of industrial parks in Isfahan,
Iran. In the following points, critical factors and
challenges for the practical implementation of
industrial symbiosis were identified and are presented here with possible solutions:
• Economic incentives,
• Change of the business philosophy,
• Conflicts in the exchange process,
• Discontinuation or failure of a linked industry,
• Distance between industries,
• Data basis for planning process.
Economic incentives: Based on the results of
interviews and workshops, most of the Iranian
companies in the implementation of EIPs are
concerned that there are no economic incentives
for the industries. Currently, the costs of energy
are very low and the water is almost free of
charge. Separate groundwater wells need only
one license, which costs a one-time fee. There are
currently no additional charges for water withdrawal. It is assumed that the investment costs
for linking the industries are too large to be
overcome without additional economic incentives. The possibility to change water prices is in
the hands of regional policy makers. Another
approach is to create economic incentives in
industrial parks and to let industries pay a fixed
amount per month and provide a rebate
depending on the degree of environmental
friendliness. In the best case, where production is
highly environmentally friendly, the industry has
the entire amount refunded. The level of environmental friendliness is to be assessed by means
of benchmarking, taking into account both
specific water consumption, the origin of the
water used and the reuse of wastewater. With
either of these approaches to creating an economic incentive, it is assumed that the investment costs will no longer be seen as an inhibiting
factor and can be easily amortized. In addition to
creating a water price, it will be necessary to
significantly reduce the number of groundwater
wells. There are two options for better controlling the actual water withdrawal: (a) to change
the decentralized water supply system into a
central water supply system, or (b) metering
systems for wells. This increases the economic
incentive for companies to save water.
Upgrading the business philosophy: The
change of business philosophy to “nature as a
symbiosis model” (Dasgupta 2008) is viewed as
critical since it is assumed that the industries are
not interested in the environment. All in all, there
is a way of focusing on the company and the
potential maximization of profits. Sustainability
does not yet play a role in most industries. In order
to implement the idea of nature as a symbiosis
model, the company assumes that without political guidelines, only minor changes will take place.
To speed up the process of rethinking the idea that
the industrial park management has a focus on
“natural cycles as model” and in this way create
awareness for the benefits of the symbiosis.
Conflicts in the exchange process: Critical
conflicts are seen in the exchange process. The
Nexus-Oriented Approach for Sharing Water Resources …
217