Indicators of climate change foreshadow a looming environmental crisis. Temperatures across the globe continue to rise leading to shrinking glaciers, rising sea levels, and increased prevalence of drought, wildfires, tropical storms, and floods. The accelerating frequency of these events wreak havoc on the security and economic stability of communities, crossing all geographical, economic, and societal strata. Mounting pressure to intercede has compelled corporations worldwide to adopt ESG and sustainability goals. Reduction in consumption is a frequently designated objective, often relating to water; however, some companies are going a step further by incorporating reclamation and reuse strategies.

As part of Reynolds American Inc. (Reynolds), the BAT Group’s U.S. subsidiary, commitment to responsible environmental management, the company recently broke ground on the WaterHub^SM at the Reynolds Operations Center in Tobaccoville, NC. The product of a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the WaterHub is an advanced water recycling facility and an important step toward reaching Reynolds' water stewardship targets for 2025. Through the WaterHub, Reynolds is playing its part in the BAT Group's progress against its goal of 35% less water withdrawn across global operations.

Once construction is complete, the WaterHub is expected to reclaim more than 60 million gallons of water a year, equivalent to the annual water supply of approximately 550 average U.S. households, reducing Reynolds’ environmental footprint and conserving water in Forsyth County’s Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin.

The WaterHub at the Reynolds Operations Center will be one of the few projects of its size designed to capture a combined wastewater stream from the plants, treat it to North Carolina reclaim water standards, and then reintroduce it as intake water for the factory utilities. By utilizing this reclaimed water, Reynolds reduces its consumption of potable water for factory utility operations and lowers its overall environmental footprint.