Saving water in food and drink production
The food processing industry uses more than 241,000 ML of water each year, making it the largest water-using sector in the manufacturing space. Typical amounts of water used in food processing:
| Water consuming activities | Beverage (%) | Meat processing (%) | Vegetable (%) | Dairy (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water in product | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Plant cleaning | 25 | 48 | 15 | 49 |
| Cooling towers | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Process operations | 8 | 47 | 78 | 42 |
| Auxiliary use | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Ways to save water
- Understand the true cost of water to the operation.
- Accurately measure and monitor water consumption.
- Increase staff awareness and involvement in water efficiency initiatives.
- Install efficient equipment (e.g. spray nozzles).
- Identify and repair leaks.
Benefits of water efficiency
- Cost savings and environmental benefits.
- Reduced cost of both mains water supply and wastewater disposal (i.e. potable water and trade waste), as less water will be entering and leaving the site.
- Using just the right amount of water may produce efficiencies in other areas, such as energy cost savings and reduced greenhouse emissions through reduced water pumping.
- Reduced risk of environmental contamination or pollution, due to there being less wastewater.
Case studies
Find out how other food processing businesses are saving water.