[Edaily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] SK hynix has reportedly saved an average of 170,000 metric tons of water per day last year by reducing water consumption and reusing wastewater in its semiconductor manufacturing process. According to the company’s estimates, this amount is enough to meet the daily domestic water needs of approximately 550,000 people.

SK hynix announced on the 10th that it participated in “Korea International Water Week 2026,” held at Daegu EXCO from the 9th to the 11th, to present these water resource management achievements and its mid- to long-term goals.

Korea International Water Week is an event where governments, public institutions, companies, and experts from around the world discuss solutions to water issues. This year, 80 companies and organizations from approximately 50 countries participated.

Since 2018, SK hynix has operated a “Water and Wastewater Reduction Task Force (TF)” to reduce water consumption in its production processes and expand water reuse facilities. As of last year, cumulative water savings reached 303.37 million metric tons, surpassing the original target of 264 million metric tons.

The company aims to increase this cumulative savings to 329 million metric tons this year and reach 600 million metric tons by 2030. The volume of water reused in production processes rose from 47.88 million metric tons in 2022 to 73.59 million metric tons last year—an increase of approximately 54% over four years.

Each facility operates a reuse system tailored to its production processes and the surrounding water resource environment. The Icheon facility produces 94,400 metric tons of reclaimed water daily at its wastewater reuse facility and supplies it to air pollution control facilities and other systems.

In 2023, the Cheongju plant became the first in the domestic semiconductor industry to introduce reused water from an external wastewater treatment facility. This approach involves reusing water—which has been treated after use in residential and industrial settings—as industrial water required for semiconductor production.

SK hynix manages the entire water cycle—from water intake through process use, reuse, and discharge. For wastewater treatment, the company employs ozone oxidation units, activated carbon, and multi-stage coagulation and sedimentation systems, and is currently investing in technologies and equipment to further reduce pollutants.

The company’s exhibition booth was designed around the theme of the “water loop,” symbolizing the water cycle. It features videos and graphics showcasing water conservation efforts, wastewater reuse, and ecosystem preservation activities.

At Anseong Stream, near the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, the company also operates the “Eco-Si Citizen Science Program,” where citizens survey plants, birds, and aquatic life. This initiative aims to conduct long-term observations of ecological changes before and after the cluster’s development and to accumulate relevant data.

An SK hynix official stated, “We will reduce the amount of water used in semiconductor production and recycle used water as much as possible,” adding, “We will also continue to expand our investments in process improvements and water treatment technologies and facilities.”