The role of the food
industry in helping consumers eat healthily and sustainably has been receiving
considerable attention in recent years. There are many challenges the industry
faces, in securing the future supply of food –water being among the most
important.
The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year
of Water Cooperation. The objective is to raise awareness, both on the
potential for increased cooperation, and on the challenges facing water
management in light of the increased demand for water access, allocation and
services.
The year will highlight the history of successful water
cooperation, as well as identify issues on education, diplomacy, trans boundary
water management, financing, national and international legal frameworks, and
linkages with the Millennium Development Goals. It also will provide an
opportunity to capitalize on the momentum created at the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and to support the formulation
of new objectives that will contribute towards developing water resources that
are truly sustainable.
Water, a vital resource unlike any other knows no borders. But
for perhaps the first time in history, global demand may outstrip supply. The
world’s population is around 7 billion people and by 2050 it may well grow to 9
billion. And by that time, 70% of the people will be urbanized. Cities may take
less than 1% of the land, but they can take up to 20% of the water. As rapid
urbanization, climate change and growing food needs put ever-increasing
pressure on freshwater resources; the objective of the year is to draw
attention to the benefits of cooperation in water management. It will serve to
highlight successful examples of water cooperation and explore key issues,
including water diplomacy, trans-boundary water management and financial
cooperation.
The potential for water cooperation is great and its
benefits, whether in economic, social or environmental terms, are considerable.
All water systems are extremely complex, be they management systems at the
local or national level, internationally shared river basins or parts of the
natural hydrological cycle. Managing these systems requires multiple actors,
from users and managers to experts from various disciplines and
decision-makers.
Cooperation is crucial not only to ensure the sustainable
and equitable distribution of water but also to foster and maintain peaceful
relations within and among communities. At the government level, different
ministries can cooperate and mainstream awareness on water management into
other sectors; at the community level users can cooperate through water users’
associations; at the trans boundary level joint management institutions can
help to distribute and protect shared resources; and at the international level
the various UN agencies can work together to promote the sustainable management
of water worldwide.
Cooperation mechanisms vary in terms of decision-making
structures, levels of participation and rules and regulations. They can take
the form of informal agreements or formal institutions, and they range from a
simple exchange of information to joint management mechanisms.
While governments the world over are geared up to meet the
water challenges, what about the corporate sector?
Water in Industrial
Use
Agriculture at present uses the lion's share of water
worldwide, with between 70% and 90% of all water in most regions. As noted by Dr
Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership, United
Nations Industrial Development Organization, in her study on ‘The Future of
Water Use in Industry,’ interestingly, the East Asia/Pacific region and
sub-Saharan Africa are the two exceptions to this, with industrial water use
taking a large proportion of water, but for opposite reasons: in East
Asia/Pacific, industry has grown extremely rapidly and often unsustainably in
recent years. Industry now provides 48% of the total GDP in the region, and
this proportion is still increasing.
On the other hand, in sub-Saharan Africa, industry takes a
large share of total water use not because the industrial sector is especially
strong, but because most agriculture is rain-fed and there is relatively little
water storage available on the continent.
A 2010 report titled Direct and Indirect Water Withdrawals
for U.S. Industrial Sectors, published by Carnegie Mellon University, has
segmented water usage by industry sector, taking into consideration both direct
water usage (bringing water into a manufacturing facility) and indirect water
usage (when a manufacturing facility is buying items from the supply chain that
were manufactured by someone else using water).
The findings show that in terms of direct water usage, the
agriculture and power-generation industries together are responsible for 90
percent of direct water withdrawals. However, a majority of water usage (about
60 percent) is indirect and more than 96 percent of industry sectors use more
water indirectly in their supply chains.
Fruit & Vegetable Farming
According to the report, while meat farming is often
targeted as an energy- and carbon-intensive sector, it shows up lower on the
list in terms of water use per dollar of economic output than fruit, grain and
vegetable farming. Thirsty cash crops like wheat, corn, rice, cotton and
sugarcane lead the pack in water usage.
Power Generation
Water is used at almost every stage of energy production,
including pumping crude oil, removing pollutants from power plant exhaust,
generating steam to run turbines, washing away residue after fossil fuels are
burned and keeping power plants cool. Within the energy industry, the most
water-hungry process is the thermoelectric-power industry, which uses plentiful
amounts of water to cool electricity-generating equipment. Overall, electrical
power production uses more water than any other single industrial process,
according to IEEE Spectrum.
Textiles and Garments
The textile industry is one of the biggest creators of
wastewater worldwide. According to the
U.S. EPA, it takes 2,900 gallons of water to produce a single pair of jeans.
Most of this water is used in what’s known as “wet processing” as well as
dyeing of fabric.
Meat Production
According to a study by the UNESCO Institute for Water
Education, conducted between 1996 and 2005, “29 percent of the total water
footprint of the agricultural sector in the world is related to the production
of animal products.” One-third of that water is used to raise beef cattle.
Beverage Industry
Another heavy user of water is the beverage industry, which
produces sodas, beers, juices and other drinks. Yet it isn’t necessarily the
production and bottling processes that are to blame. Rather, it is the plants:
the beverage industry requires farmed products such as sugar, barley, coffee, chocolate,
lemons, vanilla and other plant-derived ingredients. All in all, it takes
between 180 and 328 gallons of water to produce a 2-liter bottle of soda, 20
gallons of water to make a pint of beer and nearly 37 gallons of water to
produce the ingredients to make a single cup of coffee, according to the Water
Footprint Network.
Automotive Manufacturing
It takes about 39,000 gallons of water to produce the
average domestic car, including the tires. Major water uses in the automotive
manufacturing industry include surface treatment and coating, paint spray
booths, washing/rinsing/hosing, cooling, air conditioning systems and boilers.
Water in Food
Industry
It goes without saying that the corporate sector, in
particular the food and beverages industry too can play a very important role
in water cooperation.
Water is a critical resource for the F&B industries. It
is used for numerous purposes, including chilling, heating, washing, rinsing,
sanitizing, processing, and conveying. Large amounts of water are also incorporated
directly into a wide range of products.
As noted by Grace Communications Foundation
(www.gracelinks.org), which builds partnerships and develops innovative media
strategies that increase public awareness of the relationships among food,
water and energy systems, it takes a surprisingly large amount of water to make
processed foods and beverages.
What we eat everyday – our diet – makes up 50 percent of our
total water footprint, which includes the enormous volume of “virtual water”
needed to produce our food.
“For instance, wheat requires 132 gallons of water per
pound, and a pound of cheese takes about 600 gallons. Therefore, a cheese
sandwich represents approximately 100 gallons of water (and that’s just for a
couple of cheese slices). Throw in a bag of potato chips and it takes about 150
gallons of water to make your lunch! Thirsty? If you feel like rinsing it down
with a cold glass of milk, add an extra 100 gallons of water onto your tab. The
sheer amount of water used to make the food we eat every day can be
mind-boggling.”
On average it takes about 108 gallons of water to produce
one pound of corn. If that corn is then used as cattle feed, additional water
is required for cleaning and processing. Factoring in feed and water, it can
take around 1,800 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef.
The major demands for water during food processing are:
• Washing / cleaning of (raw) products
• Transport of products
• Dissolving of ingredients
• Treatment of the product (e.g. alteration, separation)
• Provision of appropriate water content in the final
product
• Cooling processes
• Steam generation
• Cleaning / rinsing of equipment
• Abnormal incidents (e.g. fire protection)
• Sanitation.
The problems caused by pressures on water supplies mean that
the food industry is being forced to consider both more efficient uses of water
and alternative sources of water. It is also necessary to minimize the use of
water in both production and processing, and this will inevitably lead to reuse
of water in both.
In food processing a broad range of possibilities exist with
regard to water management, including increased efficiency of water use and the
promotion of water reuse. The latter can be made more efficient by tailoring
the water quality requirements to the particular process.
Water and Wastewater Usage
Traditionally, the food-processing industry has been a large
water user. Water is used as an ingredient, an initial and intermediate
cleaning source, an efficient transportation conveyor of raw materials, and the
principal agent used in sanitizing plant machinery and areas. Although water
use will always be a part of the food-processing industry, it has become the
principal target for pollution prevention, source reduction practices.
In food processing plants, water is used for many purposes.
Its use starts with conditioning raw materials, such as soaking, cleaning,
blanching, and chilling. It continues with cooling, sanitizing, steam
generation for sterilization, power and process heating, and finally, direct
'in-process' use. The water classification categories used in the food and
beverage industries are: general purpose, process, cooling and boiler feed.
Sanitary conditions have always been a concern for food
products created in the manufacturing process. Disinfection through
chlorination has been the quickest means of disinfecting wastewater.
Disinfection has come under criticism due to chlorination byproducts and
toxicity concerns that residual chlorine pose to aquatic life. The two
principal means of disinfecting wastewater without using chlorination are ozone
disinfection or UV disinfection. Ozonation works on the same principle as
chlorination but leaves no residual in the treated wastewater and does not
produce the magnitude of disinfection byproducts that chlorination produces. UV
disinfection is even more environmentally friendly than ozone but requires more
space and cleaner wastewater to be effective. Both technologies require high
capital and operating costs.
General Purpose Water
This water includes all water used in washing and sanitizing
raw materials, processing equipment, plant facility and ancillary equipment. It
is used in the largest amounts and it should be potable, clear, colorless, and
free of contaminants that affect taste or odor. In-plant chlorination is
usually the only treatment required.
The main advantage of in-plant chlorination of general-purpose
water is the reduction of microbial number on raw materials, prepared products,
and on equipment surfaces in the plant. There is no action as important to food
and beverage processing as control of microorganisms.
Chlorinated water is often used for direct rinse of raw
material or prepared products. When this is done, precautions must be taken to
ensure that the flavor of the finished product has not been adversely affected
Process Water
Water used for cooking or added directly to the product must
be potable and must be of sufficient quality not to degrade product quality.
This includes being free of dissolved minerals that make water excessively hard
or affect taste.
Most of the product in beverage production consists of
process water, so treatment to achieve taste objectives is especially
important. Often, treatment beyond that required to meet safe drinking water
standards is essential for consistent high quality.
Treatment processes used in bottled water often include
softening, reverse osmosis, and deionization. Many other beverages would
require similar treatment.
Hard water contains minerals the can affect the texture of
the raw materials to be processed, such as certain vegetables. Iron, manganese
or sulfate can have an undesirable affect on the taste of the product.
Water softening might be required to prevent the formation
of deposits on the surfaces of equipment, and canning and bottling materials.
The type of food process determines specific quality requirements of the water
beyond being potable.
Prior to its use in food processing, water must be
microbiologically safe (free of bacteria, virus, protozoa cysts, and worms).
Methods to remove suspended matter greatly reduce microorganisms, but terminal
disinfection provides an essential added barrier.
The methods used for terminal disinfection include chemical,
thermal, radiation, and ultrasonic treatment or cell disruption. Chemical
treatment with chlorine or chlorine derivatives is the least expensive and most
common process.
Cooling Water
Cooling water not in contact with food products or sealed
containers does not have to be potable or meet the requirements of process
water. The removal of staining minerals and odors is not as important. However,
preventing the accumulation of scale in pipes and equipment is important,
especially when cooling water is recycled.
The most efficient processing systems include recycling
circuits to reduce cooling water waste, thus reducing processing costs. Potable
water, even from public supplies, often has to receive additional treatment
such as softening to avoid scale and deposits to be suitable for cooling.
Boiler Feed Water
Boiler feed water requires the removal of hardness. This may
be the only treatment process applied to the water. If this water is not in
contact with food, it does not have to be potable. Boiler feed water for high-pressure
boilers requires the removal of all dissolved solids or demineralization.
Almost all-potable water must have minerals removed through additional
treatment to be suitable for boiler feed.
Not only can microorganisms produce color and odor in water,
but also if they are introduced into the production process, they can
contaminate the equipment and finished product. Process contamination could
damage and spoil foodstuffs. If pathogenic bacteria are introduced in the
contamination, food poisoning could occur.
When water is used as a food ingredient, its quality can
affect the properties of the food, including texture, shelf stability,
appearance, aroma and flavor.
As a processing aid, water may be used for conveying,
heating, cooling, rinsing, dissolving, dispersing, blanketing, diluting,
separating, steam generation and other activities. In each case, purity of the
water will affect its performance. Cleaning activities in the food industry
involve the use of water as a carrying agent, dispersant, solvent and diluent.
Water Sources
The two primary sources of fresh water are surface and
ground water. Food processors generally obtain water from municipal sources or
owned wells. Knowledge of the water source and how it was obtained will help to
indicate any required in-house treatments. Surface waters are from rivers,
lakes and reservoirs, and may have higher levels of suspended materials,
turbidity, temperature fluctuations and mineral content. Ground water from
springs and wells tends to be high in dissolved minerals, with a relatively
constant temperature over time.
Water Quality
Impurity of water is identified and measured in three basic categories:
qualitative, general quantitative and specific. Qualitative identification,
includes turbidity, taste, color and odor, and describes obvious conditions of
water. Most qualitative measures do not describe the concentration of the
contamination and do not identify the source. It should be noted, however, that
taste, color and odor evaluations may be very accurate qualitative measurements
that can be rapidly completed.
Water scarcity is a key concern for the food and drink
industry, as disruptions in operations due to water availability, increases in
water expenses and other adverse water-related impacts would be detrimental to
the industry’s competitiveness.
Water Usage
As Food Drink Europe’s
(www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/)
Environmental Sustainability Vision towards 2030 points out, the food and drink
industry has shown leadership in its voluntarily actions to reduce water use, as
the quality and quantity of water available is critical for the sector’s
sustainability. A certain amount of water use is unavoidable for the production
of food and drink products and to ensure compliance with stringent EU hygiene
requirements, as food safety and hygiene are of utmost importance.
“While the Europe’s food and drink industry already leads in
the field and “water footprint” is minimal (1.8% of total private sector use),
producers across the world have strived to further reduce their water use and
better manage water resources from factory to final product. Leading companies
are already reporting measurable achievements in improving water efficiency.
Actions include developing and using water consumption
monitoring tools, rainwater harvesting, installing water recovery and
recirculation systems, modifying cleaning and housekeeping practices,
preventing and stopping water leakages, using sensor-controlled taps or
hand-controlled triggers on hoses, using low volume high pressure water jets,
redesigning processing techniques to reduce water use and staff training.”
A 2012 report from sustainable business analyst Verdantix,
titled The State of Global Corporate Water Strategies, was compiled after
interviewing senior executives in a number of $1 billion or greater firms from
different sectors in 10 countries. Verdantix found that formal water strategies
are becoming more common. In water-intensive industries, about 90 percent of
businesses report having a formal water strategy. The numbers are lower in
non-water-intensive industries, but are still substantial: about 60 percent. In
water-intensive industries, about 93 percent of companies issue formal reports
about their water usage and conservation practices, as do about 77 percent of
companies in lower water-intensive industries.
Companies are realizing that as water becomes scarcer in
places they manufacture, wasteful production methods present a danger to
operations, particularly if local governments turn off the tap or put huge
surcharges on water use. It’s in the businesses’ best interests to put some
water conversation programs into place now and wean themselves off wasteful
processes in favor of more water-conserving production methods.
To that end, according to the study, companies are using water
metering and other technology solutions, such as water accounting;
water-footprinting tools and product lifecycle assessment (LCA) software that
helps them outline the environmental impact of their products and processes.
Suggestions for Improvement
The changing climate with more frequent extreme weather
events requires today’s businesses to plan for an unpredictable and
inconsistent water supply via more sophisticated water management practices,
according to a new report released on April 15th, by the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The report, Sharing Water: Engaging Business emphasizes the
crucial role of business in ensuring responsible management of water resources
and encourages greater collaboration across sectors. The report finds that
leading companies have begun shifting their perspective beyond merely managing
operational water use to becoming more conscious of how corporate actions
impact local and regional water resources and, conversely, how water resources
and watersheds impact business.
“Increasing global demand and the impacts of climate change
are placing unprecedented strain on freshwater resources,” said WBCSD President
Peter Bakker. “In order to ensure a viable business future, companies are
calling for collective management and collaboration at the watershed level to
ensure continued access to water supplies among competing demands.”
Water conservation groups say there is room in every step of
the manufacturing process for improvement, whether by changing or modifying
machinery to use less water, switching to waterless processes, or treating and
reusing water. It’s a daunting prospect, and should begin with a comprehensive
review and planning strategy.
Keep track of water usage. Many manufacturers today
don’t track their water consumption, which should be the first step of reducing
its use. Companies can begin by implementing a water auditing system that
reviews the life cycle of water in the plant from intake to discharge. An audit
should track primary uses, and also secondary uses, such as wash water,
irrigation water for landscaping, and water used in restroom facilities. It
should include where the water is used, what quality it needs to be, and where
savings opportunities might exist. This can be accomplished by sub-metering of
water, or breaking out each water-using process and measuring precisely how
much is used.
Build a water management strategy. Once a company
knows how much water it uses, it can begin to set specific targets for
reduction and plan how to achieve them. This strategy should be reviewed at
least once a year to ensure that it accommodates changing business needs.
Determine the areas where wastewater can be recaptured
and reused. Chances are, not every water-based process requires fresh water:
so-called “gray water” will do just as well for the purposes of cooling,
rinsing, boiling, or flushing. There are benefits to such a switch beyond
cutting water use. By reducing water discharge, companies may be able to
minimize regulatory and discharge fees.
Recover waste heat instead of dousing it with water.
One of the most common uses of water in manufacturing is for cooling hot
machinery. Conversely, one of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption is
to recover waste heat and use it to heat the facility. Moving to a waste heat
capture (or “cogeneration”) system can reduce both water usage and energy
costs.
Invest in on-site water treatment. Rather than
discharging used water and pulling fresh water from municipal systems, many
companies have turned to treating wastewater on site to prepare it for re-use,
in some cases using relatively inexpensive carbon filtration.
Recover water from steam boilers. Another common use
of water in manufacturing is for boilers to generate steam. There is great potential
for water loss here as the water turns to vapor and escapes the system. Many
eco-minded companies are recapturing steam in heat exchangers designed to
collect the condensate and return the water to the boiler.
