Water reuse is becoming increasingly important in industrial production. A reliable supply of fresh production water impacts costs and the choice of location. Constraints on wastewater treatment, especially discharge limit values, are also being tightened – so that expensive measures will be needed to ensure compliance going forward. Water reuse makes it possible to protect water resources, reduce costs, secure continued water supply for production and achieve sustainability goals – and we help you do it!
What does water reuse mean?
Water reuse, or water recycling, refers to the treatment and repeated use of water. Strictly speaking, a distinction is made between reusing water for the same purpose – known as water recycling – and downstream reuse for a different purpose.
What is water used for in production?
Water is an essential production component, especially in food processing. It is used for a range of purposes:
- Within products (dairy products, beer, soft drinks)
- For cleaning and hygiene (product, product vessel, tank, machine surfaces, steam disinfection)
- For temperature control (cooling water)
- For heating and steam processes (boiler water)
- For transport (water as a conveying medium)
Around 50% of the fresh water is used for cleaning (CIP), followed by cooling and as boiler feed water.
What are the advantages of water recycling?
- Overcome regional water shortages
Reuse water to secure the supply of fresh water for your production processes. Achieve a predictable water supply. - Reduce costs
Cut procurements of fresh water and the quantity of wastewater. Adjust the water quality of the treated water to suit the specific use case (fit for purpose). - Meet legal requirements
Meet the most stringent water quality requirements with innovative water conditioning solutions. - Avoid production bottlenecks
Prevent problems with fresh water supply or wastewater disposal when expanding production. - Promote sustainability
Achieve environmental and social (ESG) goals by reusing water, while reducing the burden on local water networks and public wastewater infrastructure.
How can I reuse water?
Water reuse involves a variety of process steps that depend on the load of the water to be treated and its envisaged quality:
- Oils, fats and inorganic impurities are reduced using the efficient chemical-physical pre-treatment Envochem®.
- Biomar® biological treatment breaks down higher organic loads – anaerobic treatment produces biogas, which reduces energy costs.
- Envopur® ultrafiltration traps microorganisms, removes solids and colloids, and creates a reliable barrier against pathogens.
- Envochem® activated carbon eliminates remaining organic substances.
- Envopur® reverse osmosis enables partial desalination and removes residual concentrations or organic substances.
- Envochem® UV disinfection ensures effective water disinfection.
Learn more about the technologies we use
As fresh water, process water, boiler feed water, cooling water and CIP water are all used in ongoing operations, very different qualities need to be achieved for the specific use cases. We review your production processes, advise you on which water treatment levels are economical for your water recycling and then develop together the perfect system for your water treatment.
Your partner for sustainable water use – we develop your water recycling plant
A sound water management concept is essential for the sustainable and efficient use of water resources. We take a holistic view of the potential water sources and consumers at your plant and develop a water management concept that saves resources and costs. Water-intensive processes and relevant water streams are recorded and analysed, and specific usage targets are taken into account.
We collaborate with you to plan and implement your bespoke plant solution for water treatment.
Just reach out to us and reduce the water footprint of your business.
Frequently asked questions on water reuse
Does reconditioned water reliably meet the quality requirements?
Yes, with the right treatment concept, the water is reliably available in the right quality for the intended use cases.
What does it cost to implement water reuse?
The costs vary depending on the specific requirements of your production process and the selected technologies. We would be happy to advise you.
Practical example:
Water reuse in food production at a German site
Challenge:
To comply with the approved discharge volume, despite production expansion and cost reductions
Our approach:
- Operational management by EnviroChemie experts
- Addition of a water reuse stage to the current wastewater treatment plant as a means of increasing capacity
- Filtration of pre-treated wastewater with Envopur® ultrafiltration, Envopur® reverse osmosis and Envochem® UV and chlorine disinfection
Customer benefits:
- Up to 1,800 m³ of wastewater efficiently treated per day
- 40% of the treated wastewater is reused, ensuring compliance with the approved discharge volume
- 400,000 Nm³ biogas from wastewater used annually for heat generation
- Expansions and adjustments to the plant technology reduce total energy consumption by 55%
- Flexibility for future expansions
