With a focus on sustainable water use and in line with FURNAS' environmental policies, the Jacarepaguá Substation, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, recently implemented a system to reuse water discharged by air conditioning units in its control room for use in the bathroom and service taps. Rainwater is also collected in the substation's cable room basement, stored and pumped for use in the facilities.
Between March of last year and February of this year, around 200 thousand liters of water were saved, as shown in the graph below:
The low-cost project consisted of installing a structure made up of two 500-liter tanks to collect water from air conditioning units and rainwater, a tank – also 500 liters – on the roof of the control room to supply the bathroom and taps, and a pump between the upper and lower tanks and a water meter to record all the water pumped.
Initiatives like these, which in some cases come from FURNAS' own employees and local managers, are encouraged by the company and serve as a model for other operational units of the company.
The Ibiúna and Tijuco Preto substations, in the state of São Paulo, and the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Plant, in Rio de Janeiro, also have mechanisms for reusing and repurposing water.
After all, this resource is the main source of energy generation for the Brazilian Electrical System, an essential element for life, the well-being of the population and the development of the country.
