Sustainability commitments mean little without the systems to back them up. Our Water Optimization Methodology is a pragmatic framework that helps clients move from strategy to site-level execution, maximizing water efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring compliance across diverse facilities and geographies. 

Using a consistent, scalable, and adaptable methodology, the Water Optimization Methodology bridges high-level corporate h sustainability drivers, such as water stewardship, regulatory compliance, and resource efficiency, with concrete, site-specific strategies and actions. 

At its core, the Water Optimization Methodology begins with a comprehensive assessment of existing water systems and infrastructure. From there, it builds a site-specific roadmap by setting measurable targets, translating them into practical improvement actions, and providing tools to track progress over time. The approach is designed to work across sectors and geographies, aligning corporate objectives with on-the-ground realities, helping clients safeguard water resources while enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and building resilience. 

The Water Optimization Methodology approach led to a range of measurable improvements across the client’s Italian facilities, such as: 

• Reusing treated water: At one site, the client was pumping well water for factory operations while discharging treated groundwater. Our team identified the opportunity to reuse this treated polluted groundwater internally, eliminating redundancy and reducing reliance on freshwater sources. 
• Cooling system optimization: At another site, cooling towers designed to dissipate 3MW of heat were still operating at that level, despite current needs being just 1MW. The team created a target to scale down cooling tower operation, resulting in actions that improved energy and water efficiency. 
• Water quality interventions: At a site using hard ground water (60 °F, or 600 mg/l CaCO₃) for the preparation of demineralized water; this led to a more than 20% loss. Through mass and energy balance analysis, we recommended operational changes that reduced wastage and improved efficiency. 

To ensure continuity and accountability, we embedded a water strategy expert within the client’s corporate headquarters. This expert served as a bridge between corporate leadership and local site teams, guiding consistent and effective implementation of water optimization strategies. 

The strength of the Water Optimization Methodology lies in its adaptability. Recognizing that long-term planning is increasingly uncertain, the framework emphasizes a phased approach—with immediate, short-term, and long-term actions tailored to the client’s evolving needs. 

Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all checklist, we co-develop site-specific plans with facility managers and corporate stakeholders. This collaborative model ensures that sustainability targets are achievable, economically viable, and aligned with each site’s operational context. The methodology is transparent and accountable, giving corporate decision-makers confidence in their ability to manage and track improvements over time. 

Beyond the direct benefits to the client, the Water Optimization Methodology  contributes to broader community and environmental gains. In Italy, many of the facilities reduced their surface water and aquifer withdrawals, easing pressure on local water supplies and ecosystems. 

By improving internal reuse and reducing overall water demand, the facilities also became more resilient to future water scarcity, a growing concern across Southern Europe. These enhancements offered a perceptual advantage as well: with our support, the client was able to clearly communicate measurable, credible improvements, strengthening its reputation as a responsible water steward to both internal stakeholders and the public, while reinforcing accountability and building trust. 

Our Water Optimization Methodology proved to be a powerful tool for translating corporate sustainability goals into actionable plans across 36 diverse facilities in Italy. By leveraging SWOT analysis, measurable targets, and phased implementation, we helped the client achieve substantial water savings, improve compliance, and enhance resilience without compromising on performance or incurring unnecessary costs. 

The Water Optimization Methodology is more than a strategy—it’s a philosophy of flexible, client-centric water stewardship that adapts to any site, sector, or scale. Whether addressing water scarcity, aging infrastructure, or regulatory compliance, the methodology provides a clear, adaptable roadmap toward a more sustainable future.

Carlo Zaffaroni  

Carlo Zaffaroni is an engineer with over 30 years of experience in Water & Wastewater treatment, environmental engineering, and industrial operations. His expertise spans design and build projects, operational support, and innovative process optimization. As a Global Subject Matter Expert for Industrial Water & Wastewater at WSP, Carlo plays a key role in developing and advancing solutions for water treatment, resource management, and sustainability for clients across sectors like energy, manufacturing, and advanced technology. 

Federico Rizzo 

Andrea Capriati 

Andrea Capriati is an Environmental Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the fields of water/wastewater treatment and hydraulics. He has a  Master Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Rome “Sapienza” and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”