Ford Cuts Global Water Use In Auto Production

DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co. said last week that it has decreased the average amount of water used to make each vehicle by 30 percent between 2009 and 2015.

Since 2000, Ford has decreased its total water use globally from 64 million cubic meters to 24 million cubic meters -- the equivalent of about 10.6 billion gallons -- due in large part to implementation of new methods for monitoring and managing how water is used at each facility

Ford reduced the average amount of water used to make each vehicle by 8.5 percent between 2011 and 2012 -- putting the company more than halfway toward its current goal of using an average of just 4 cubic meters per vehicle globally by 2015.

Ford's reduction since 2000 is equivalent to the amount of water used by nearly 99,000 U.S. residences annually, or enough to fill 16,000 Olympic-size pools.

Ford's water reduction success is a result of the company's aggressively monitoring and managing just about every drop of water going into and out of its facilities and properties, said Andy Hobbs, director, Environmental Quality Office.

Ford voluntarily launched its Global Water Management Initiative in 2000, putting in place ways to manage water conservation, quality and reuse of storm and process water. Ford's water strategy complements the company's overall Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibilities.

"Ford recognizes the critical importance of water, and is committed to conserving water and using it responsibly," said Robert Brown, vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering. "Many vehicle manufacturing processes require water and the resource is used at every point in our supply chain."

Ford aims to use an average of 1,056 gallons of water to make each vehicle globally – consistent with its overall goal of a 30 percent reduction in the amount of water used per vehicle between 2009 and 2015. That is slightly more than the 1,000 gallons fire engine tankers in the U.S. are required to contain in their tanks.  One cubic meter of water is equal to 264 gallons.

Ford had a positive impact on the world's water supply in many ways during 2012. The Ford Fund, for example, supported 19 different water-related projects in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, India, Germany and South Africa.

More at www.ford.com.