‘A thirsty operation’: TSMC plant arrives amid water doubts, but Phoenix isn’t worried
A sprawling complex of some of the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities is growing in north Phoenix as the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company makes progress on expansions of its operations. A major part of the plan is to install water reuse and water recycling systems. Research on semiconductor water treatment led by Paul Westerhoff, the Fulton Chair of Environmental Engineering and professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Fulton Schools, is expected to help enable the facilities to eventually reuse 90% of all wastewater on-site and have the technology to treat it to ultra-pure standards necessary to make the semiconductor chips.