By adopting best-practice for process water and wastewater treatment and plant cleaning , and by identifying opportunities for water efficiency at every stage of the process , producers can move towards more sustainable practices . As new process priorities and requirements come into operation , Qdos dosing pumps have the flexibility to meet a range of requirements including new types of chemicals , value for money , reliability and ease of maintenance .
Across the world , legally binding environmental regulations , such as the European Water Framework Directive , the US Clean Water Act , and the Australian National Water Initiative are in place to protect rivers , lakes , estuaries , coastal waters , and groundwater from pollution .
Food and beverage companies in breach of water quality requirements risk prosecutions , large fines and even having their discharge permits revoked . Appropriate chemical treatment of process water and wastewater is fundamental to the safe and efficient operation of all food and beverage production plants .
Efficient cleaning
It is essential that all machinery , water and wastewater systems are accurately maintained and cleaned with trained personnel that follow procedures and ensure effective operating processes . The most efficient plants choose a combination of preventative , proactive , and predictive approaches and WMFTS designs dosing equipment to these high standards . Its pumps are easy to install , operate , and maintain and will help minimise the procedural load and the risk of human error .
Pumps that are easy to clean are also important in striving for better water efficiency .
Apart from agriculture , the biggest water use in the food industry is the cleaning of processing equipment / plants and food products , which can account for up to 70 % of a factory ’ s water usage , but Clean In Place ( CIP ) is one way of reducing water usage for food and beverage companies .
Using a Certa 200 Sine ® pump and Aflex FaBLINE hose , from WMFTS , has not only increased yield for Padstow Cheese Company in England , but also reduced the amount of time and water used in cleaning .
Lawrence Reynolds , of Padstow Cheese Company , said : “ The Certa pump is so easy to clean , unlike our previous centrifugal pump , which was a nightmare . In addition , the smooth construction of Aflex FaBLINE hoses means we can flush the cleaning products through and rinse out very easily .”
Reducing food waste with less water use
Peristaltic pumps from WMFTS have also been integrated into sustainable solutions for steam potato peeling provided by TOMRA Food which reduces water usage , water treatment and food waste .
The TOMRA Dry Peel Separator ( DPS ) uses a Bredel hose pump as a dry-waste pump which enables food processors to reduce water usage and recover the potato skin and starch for use in animal feed or anaerobic digestion ( biogas ).
Eamonn Cullen , Market Manager Peeling at TOMRA Food , says Bredel plays a key role in TOMRA ’ s sustainable solution for an efficient , reliable and profitable potato peeling solution .
He said : “ There are a number of advantages with using the Bredel hose pump . The ability to pump peel without the addition of water is one . The majority of potato processing facilities will collect all steam peeled skin in dry form . Some processors still need to use water in the peel separation brush machines , but this is reducing every year . It has become an important key performance indicator for the food industry to reduce water usage , to reduce food waste and to improve sustainability .
Collecting the steam peeled skin and starch dry enables this material to be used in other parts of the value chain . It can be farmers feeding animals or anaerobic digesters changing biomass into biogas . These opportunities help maximise the utilisation of every part of the potato and make every potato count .”
Conclusion
Food and beverage companies are achieving better water management with water reuse , by adding new treatment trains to minimise use of municipal water and reduce abstractions from , and discharges to , the environment .
During water treatment , selecting the right chemical dosing pump can mitigate risks from breaches in health and safety and compliance . Using a peristaltic metering and dosing pump can achieve not only chemical cost savings through its accuracy , but also contributes to better water conservation for food and beverage companies . A Qdos CWT peristaltic pump is being used by Eurial at one of its dairies for accurate and reliable chlorine dosing to treat the 300m3 of water needed to feed the entire plant daily .
CIP can also help reduce a food and beverage company ’ s water use during cleaning . A Certa 200 Sine pump and Aflex FaBLINE hose have helped to increase yield for Padstow Cheese Company in England , but also reduced the amount of time and water used in cleaning .
Finally , the TOMRA Dry Peel Separator ( DPS ) enables food processors to reduce water usage as the Bredel hose pump , which is used as a dry waste pump , can pump peel without the addition of water .
For more information , a special report from WMFTS , ‘ How peristaltic technology is helping food and beverage manufacturers treat water and wastewater more efficiently ’ can be downloaded here .
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