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After nearly three years of initiative planning, design and construction with the state of California and the local municipal water district, UTC Aerospace Systems (UTCAS) has launched first U.S.-based water reclamation initiative at its manufacturing facility in Santa Fe Springs. The Southern California aerospace manufacturer aims to save an additional 25-million gallons of water at the site, adding substantially to the 9.7 million gallons of water saved on the premises since 2013.
The UTC Aerospace Systems Santa Fe Springs facility is one of the company’s seven California-based sites that have reduced water usage by 65 million gallons through high-profile initiatives, including water recycling, xeriscaping, and low flow fixtures in addition to eliminating leaks and overflow. These initiatives have combined for some 313 million gallons of water saved across UTC Aerospace Systems locations since 2013.
UTC Aerospace Systems, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is an international supplier of technologically advanced aerospace and defense products. Its companies design, manufacture and service integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems is part of Farmington, Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp. who provides high-technology systems and services to both the building and aerospace industries.
UTCAS held a ribbon-cutting for its Santa Fe Springs water reclamation initiative earlier this week to celebrate the venture. The water reclamation project will direct its site-generated industrial waste water to a city treatment facility, which will return the treated water to the Santa Fe Springs facility for industrial use. The water will be distributed through a separate connection with no impact to sanitary or drinking water at the location or in the surrounding community.
“By moving to reclaimed water, we will now be using the same system that many local municipalities use for public irrigation and landscaping,” said Diego Torres, director of Operations at UTC Aerospace Systems. “As a large industrial consumer, it’s great to know we are now able to preserve 25 million gallons of water for the region’s drinking water supply each year.”
Since 1997, United Technologies Corp. has tripled the size of its business while reducing water consumption by 62 percent. By 2020, UTC is committed to reducing water usage by 25 percent compared to its 2015 baseline. As a longstanding local business, UTC Aerospace Systems has committed to helping reduce the burden of drinking water shortages in California, while also maintaining a pathway to continue business growth in the community.
The Santa Fe Springs UTC Aerospace Systems facility manufactures state-of-the-art carbon friction material utilized in civil and military aircraft brakes including carbon brakes and high-temperature composites. The facility’s reclaimed water will support site operations.
