GEF

Unit 5  |  Toward Sustainable Water Systems 124 city of Plachimada, a large Coca-Cola bottling plant was shut down in 2004 after the village council revoked the company’s license to pump groundwater from an almost-depleted aqui- fer. Whether or not Coca-Cola was primarily responsible for depleting groundwater, the company is learning that their relationship with local communities and the water resources that sustain them is extremely important. Another business sector that is learning the importance of water sustainability is the semiconductor industry. The pro- duction of semiconductors, the heart of computers and other electronics, is extremely water-intensive. The silicon wafers in semiconductors have to be cleaned and polished using special water that is completely free of any impurities. The average SEMICONDUCTOR A basic component of vari- ous kinds of electronic circuit elements, or the material used to make them. SILICON WAFER A thin slice of semiconduc- tor material used to make integrated circuits and some types of solar cells. WATCH & LEARN http://bit.ly/2vDB3yu Watch the video and respond to the questions below. 1. Name three motivators for businesses to improve water sustainability. 2. What is the purpose of carrying out water footprints? 3. Name three factors that businesses have responded to in recent years. video: Water Sustainability and Business