Samsung Electronics Secures 170 Million Tons of Industrial Water Using Public Sewage Treatment Plant Effluent

Ministry of Environment and Local Governments Sign Agreement to Promote Reuse of Treated Wastewater
Lay Foundation to Achieve 'Zero Increase in Water Intake' by 2030

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Yeju] Samsung Electronics secures industrial water through the reuse of treated wastewater from public sewage treatment plants.

On the 30th, Samsung Electronics signed a business agreement to promote the reuse of treated sewage water with the Ministry of Environment, Gyeonggi Province, five cities (Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Osan), Korea Water Resources Corporation, and Korea Environment Corporation.

The signing ceremony was held at Samsung Electronics Semiconductor Hwaseong Campus, attended by Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment; Yeom Tae-young, Deputy Governor of Gyeonggi Province for Economy; Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon; Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin; Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong; Jeong Jang-seon, Mayor of Pyeongtaek; Lee Gwon-jae, Mayor of Osan; Park Jae-hyun, President of Korea Water Resources Corporation; Ahn Byung-ok, Chairman of Korea Environment Corporation; and Kyung Kye-hyun, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics.

Through this agreement, Samsung Electronics will treat the discharged water from public sewage treatment plants in Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Osan to the level of industrial water required for semiconductor operations and supply it to Samsung Electronics’ Giheung, Hwaseong, and Pyeongtaek sites. The discharged water supplied to each site will be further processed into ultrapure water for semiconductor production. By reusing discharged water from public sewage treatment plants without additional water intake from nature, it is expected to contribute to resolving the national water shortage issue. The amount of water Samsung Electronics is expected to receive through this agreement is approximately 474,000 tons per day, totaling 173 million tons annually.

With the expansion of semiconductor lines, the industrial water required at Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor sites is expected to more than double by 2030 compared to the current level.

In the 'New Environmental Management Strategy' announced last September, Samsung Electronics declared its goal to achieve 'zero increase in water intake' at domestic semiconductor sites by 2030. The company has been exploring various ways to secure industrial water stably without increasing water intake.

Currently, Samsung Electronics is practicing water intake reduction by reducing water consumption in processes through process optimization and reusing water via high-concentration wastewater purification based on membrane technology. As a result of these efforts, Samsung Electronics increased its water reuse volume by 19% in 2021 compared to 2020 and achieved a reuse rate of 34% through the development of new reuse technologies.

Additionally, Samsung Electronics Semiconductor will continue various efforts to optimize water usage and reduce water intake, including replacing aging facilities, improving manufacturing processes, and developing new technologies.

Kyung Kye-hyun, CEO of Samsung Electronics’ DS Division, said, "Using reused sewage water in the semiconductor industry, which requires ultrapure water, represents a major paradigm shift. We will develop innovative water reuse technologies and work together with the government and local governments to conserve water resources."