Abstract: TH-PO0453
Enhancing Water Conservation and Cost Savings in Hemodialysis Clinics with 2008T BlueStar Premium
Session Information
- Hemodialysis: Novel Markers and Case Reports
November 06, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis
Authors
- Zhou, Meijiao, Renal Research Institute, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Ficociello, Linda, Renal Research Institute, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Rigodon, Vladimir, Renal Research Institute, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Kruger, Rob, Fresenius Medical Care, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Anger, Michael S., Fresenius Medical Care, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Background
The 2008T hemodialysis (HD) machine with BlueStar Premium (BSP) reduces dialysate flow rate to 100 mL/min during idle mode. Since 2018, Fresenius Kidney Care (FKC) clinics have begun upgrading existing 2008T machines or purchasing new 2008T BSP machines to reduce dialysate and water consumption. This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate water usage and estimate cost savings in HD clinics before and after the implementation of the 2008T BSP machines.
Methods
This clinic-level study included FKC clinics that had used 2008T BSP machines and had Aqua A Reverse Osmosis (RO) system installed prior to BSP implementation. Water consumption data were obtained from the FTP files generated by the AquaA system, which had a water meter to measure the water entering the system. Treatment data was extracted from the FKC data warehouse. The study period was divided into baseline (BL; 3-month before BSP) and follow-up (FUP; 3-month after BSP). Water consumption per treatment was analyzed for BL and FUP, and estimates of water cost savings were calculated.
Results
Ten FKC clinics met the inclusion criteria, of which five had completed water data available for analysis. On average, clinics delivered 266 treatments and 955 hours per week (based on a 6-day dialysis schedule) during the study period. Across these clinics, water usage per treatment declined by approximately 7.8% between BL and FUP. Using a water cost of $0.00295 per gallon ($0.00078 per liter), as reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and applying the observed average reduction in water use per treatment, we estimated the corresponding cost savings based on the treatment capacity of clinics (Table 1).
Conclusion
We observed reductions in water usage following the implementation of BSP features in the 2008T HD machines among participating FKC clinics. These findings suggest that BSP can contribute to water conservation efforts, supporting environmental sustainability in dialysis care.
| HD treatments per week | Water savings per year, liter | Estimated annual water cost savings, $ |
| 200 | 332,800 | 259 |
| 300 | 499,200 | 389 |
| 400 | 665,600 | 519 |
| 500 | 832,000 | 648 |
Funding
- Commercial Support – Fresenius Medical Care