Water Conservation: A Top Priority for TSMC Arizona

Inside TSMC Arizona's water recycling efforts, industrial reclamation plant, and long-term commitment to sustainable semiconductor manufacturing in North Phoenix.

Water conservation is a top priority at TSMC Arizona, as we continue our cutting-edge work in the Valley.

TSMC selected north Phoenix as the site of our U.S. operation in 2020 because of the city’s innovation and commitment to water sustainability. This includes a 100-year plan to reduce water consumption, improve water quality and enhance water availability.

Our pledge to the people of Arizona and greater Phoenix is simple: to reduce natural water consumption in our company’s operations to minimize environmental impacts.

TSMC Arizona maintains rigorous standards in energy conservation, water recycling, waste management, emissions control, and regulatory compliance. Our Phoenix campus is building a 15-acre Industrial Reclamation Water Plant to achieve 90% recycling.

Strategically managing water usage

To understand how TSMC Arizona manages water usage, it’s important to know how the semiconductor industry compares to the largest users of water in the region. Reports note agriculture is the largest sector, using approximately 70% of the state’s water. Although the semiconductor industry relies heavily on water to manufacture integrated circuits and electronic chips, it is not the biggest water user, nor is industrial or commercial as a whole.

Globally, TSMC adheres to the highest water conservation standards, with a strategy aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This includes achieving a water-positive rate of 100% by 2040 across TSMC fabs around the world.

TSMC Arizona to advance water management in the semiconductor industry

Currently, TSMC Arizona operates at a 65% water recycling rate at our North Phoenix campus, processing wastewater through existing treatment systems before discharge back to Phoenix’s municipal system. Recycled water is used in the site’s central chillers and air scrubbers.

Given the demand for our chips and the need to expand our chip ecosystem, TSMC Arizona broke ground on a 15-acre Industrial Reclamation Water Plant (IRWP) last summer. This marked a significant advancement in semiconductor manufacturing water conservation. The chipmaking process demands ultra-pure water to prevent defects that could compromise chip functionality. Ultimately, this generates significant volumes of wastewater, requiring further processing. This IRWP will allow us to return water to its original state for use in our semiconductor making process.

Scheduled for completion in 2028, the plant will enable our company to achieve “Near Zero Liquid Discharge” capabilities to recycle nearly all of our water usage and convert industrial wastewater back to ultrapure standards required for semiconductor production.

At startup, the facility is expected to achieve an 85% water recycling rate, with plans to increase that figure to 90%, which will significantly reduce the water supply required from the City of Phoenix. Even as our operation expands with additional chipmaking fabs, we won’t abandon this goal to our company and community.

Water conservation: Part of a record-setting investment in Arizona’s semiconductor industry

Construction of the IRWP underscores TSMC Arizona’s commitment to water conservation and it is part of our $165 billion investment in domestic chip production capabilities.

We are committed to setting new standards in sustainable manufacturing in Arizona’s desert region by innovating recycling technologies.

For more information, visit https://www.tsmc.com/static/abouttsmcaz/index.htm