Intel’s Ocotillo manufacturing and development Campus in Chandler, Arizona has won an award from the U.S. EPA regarding water reduction and recycling strategies. The Water Efficiency Leader (WEL) awards promote the efficient use of our water resources across America. 

Intel was cited for three key initiatives at the Ocotillo campus that led to the collective recycling of 75 percent of the water used during manufacturing of semiconductors. Intel was also able to take back 825 million gallons of treated wastewater from the city’s wastewater plant as part of the recycling efforts and was noted for the internal re-use of 530 million gallons of water. The treatment of 575 million gallons of water to drinking water standards was then returned to the local underground aquifer.

At the recent ISMI Conference, an Intel presentation highlighted that between 1998 and 2006, it has invested more than $100 million on water conservation strategies at its manufacturing facilities and over $20 million spent specifically at its Ocotillo campus. Intel has three fabs at the site: Fab12, Fab 22, and Fab 32.