In the past, industries were only concerned about the efficiency of production processes, but this mentality is now restricted. The change to an ecological awareness has become part of their strategies, and one of the important components in this new phase is water. The situation is as follows, industries must become environmentally responsible to survive, managing and accepting the water variable as an integral part of every aspect of the total operation. In this way managers can hope and maintain their position and ensure survival. It is not enough just to demonstrate a continuous improvement of their services and products, because it is essential that the use of water undergoes transformations, and enters as an integral part of their strategic production processes. Therefore, this paper analyzes the use of water by hydro-intensive industries, what pressures they receive from society, institutions and the environment itself to change their attitude, and assume a position that makes efficient use and reuse of water in their production processes.