From end-of-pipe to the heart of the process

Water treatment like it used to be

Eric Nab, Industry Sales Manager Marel Water Treatment, talks about the past. “In the 1990s, water treatment was typically considered as an end-of-pipe solution. Back then, decisions about processing lines took precedence, and at the end of the day, the subject of wastewater was quickly discussed and finalized. The top management of an enterprise was predominantly interested in poultry processing equipment, because that was where the money was made. Water treatment, along with rendering, energy connections and clean water supply were perceived as details to be managed by lower-level staff. It is not without reason that one could always find the wastewater treatment and rendering facilities at the rear of a factory. However, over the past 30 years, the role of wastewater treatment has evolved significantly.”

Sustainable reputation

In the current landscape, water treatment has become a significant topic for the upper management of poultry companies too. Not in the least because processing plants with substantial capacities such as 2 x 15,000 bph, consume a considerable amount of water and generate substantial wastewater. The importance of water treatment impacts the overall business case.

Eric Nab continues, “Stringent governmental regulations underline the environmental concerns in the poultry industry. Failure to manage wastewater appropriately not only endangers the investment in the processing plant but also poses a risk to the company’s reputation. In today’s market, consumers increasingly prefer to buy from companies that prioritize sustainable practices. Likewise, people looking for a job tend to favor organizations that are committed to sustainable responsibility. All this makes it absolutely necessary for businesses to address environmental issues. Consequently, in light of these considerations, wastewater treatment has become a central concern for poultry companies.”

Water reuse

Given the water scarcity in a lot of places in the world, wastewater treatment is no longer an end-of-pipe solution. More and more poultry processors are talking about water reuse. “They want to reuse the water for feed water, cooling towers, cleaning, irrigation, but also for upgrading the quality to drinking water and bring it back into the food process. This takes water treatment from an end-of-pipe solution directly to the heart of the process.” 

A small city

The growth in capacity in the last 10 to 15 years has resulted in factories of 2x 15,000 bph, working in two shifts. “Such a processing plant produces 7,500 cubic liters of wastewater per day, which is the same amount as a small city in the Netherlands of 50,000 people. But the water pollution is 10 times worse than this city puts out. So if something goes wrong, the whole area will suffer. And the entire investment can be endangered because if that kind of pollution comes into the area, the factory will be shut down. Recognizing the impact of a possible bad choice, factory managements definitely want to install a secure and effective wastewater solution.”

Marel’s all-encompassing solutions

Water treatment is increasingly vital for processors, and Marel can support them excellently in these matters. Processors can benefit from the seamless integration between Marel’s processing installations and water treatment arrangements, delivering all-encompassing solutions. “It is reliable to entrust Marel with the significant responsibility of a safe and sound water treatment system, placing it in the same hands as the processing equipment. With Marel as a dependable partner, water treatment will become an integral part of the overall configuration,”concludes Eric Nab.