What Types of Wastewater Does Food & Drink Manufacturing Generate?
The UK food and beverage industry is enormous and produces a wide array of goods to support both domestic consumption and exports. As such, this industry generates significant amounts of wastewater, which must be managed carefully to avoid environmental damage and to comply with UK regulations.
Effective wastewater management is vital for sustainability and reducing pollution, both of which are urgent priorities for UK industry. There are also specific regulations that must be followed for industries that use and dispose of water, including the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. Here, the wastewater treatment experts at Universal Tankers examine the types of wastewater generated by UK food and drink manufacturers and explore the technologies used to manage it effectively.
What are the sources of wastewater in the UK food and beverage industry?
Wastewater in UK food and drink manufacturing arises from several stages of production, including cleaning, cooking, cooling, and raw material processing. It typically contains high levels of organic matter, fats, oils, grease (FOG), nutrients, and chemicals, which must be removed before treatment can begin.
The type and composition of wastewater vary across different sectors of the food and beverage industry, from dairy and meat processing to beverage production. Before water can be reused or released into the environment, it must undergo treatment processes to remove FOG and other pollutants. The required treatments also depend on the sources of wastewater and are bespoke to each industry and application.
Dairy industry wastewater
The UK’s dairy industry produces significant amounts of wastewater during stages like milk processing, cleaning, and sterilisation of equipment. This wastewater contains fats, proteins, and lactose, which contribute to high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Due to its high fat content, dairy wastewater can clog drainage systems and overwhelm treatment plants if not properly managed.
Technologies such as dissolved air flotation (DAF) and membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are effective at removing fats and breaking down organic pollutants, and are often used to treat wastewater in compliance with legal requirements.
Meat and poultry processing wastewater
The meat and poultry-processing industries generate complex wastewater streams containing blood, fats, and proteins. These components contribute to elevated levels of BOD and suspended solids. These pollutants make treatment challenging, but must be addressed before water can be reused or released into the environment.
Anaerobic digestion is often used to break down organic waste in the absence of oxygen, and produces biogas that can be used to power certain facilities. Additionally, DAF systems are employed to remove FOG before further biological treatment, ensuring that meat processing facilities meet wastewater discharge standards.
Beverage industry wastewater
The beverage industry - which includes breweries, distilleries, and soft drink manufacturers - produces wastewater containing high concentrations of sugars and alcohol, leading to high COD. This sector also faces the challenge of removing suspended solids from its wastewater.
Technologies such as reverse osmosis and dissolved air flotation are frequently used to treat beverage industry wastewater, and enable the recycling of treated water for cleaning or cooling purposes. This reduces the demand for freshwater resources in line with the UK’s sustainability goals, and can make water use more efficient for food and beverage industry businesses.
What characteristics are used to judge the standards of food and beverage wastewater?
Biological oxygen demand
BOD is a critical measure of the organic pollutant load in wastewater. Food and beverage manufacturers must monitor and treat their wastewater to reduce BOD levels before discharge, as high BOD can lead to oxygen depletion in water bodies, harming aquatic ecosystems.
The Environment Agency enforces strict limits on BOD concentrations for wastewater discharged into public waterways. Some of the technologies we have mentioned above, like anaerobic digestion and membrane bioreactors, can help manufacturers to manage BOD levels effectively.
Chemical oxygen demand
COD measures the total amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidise both organic and inorganic materials in wastewater. High COD levels are a common challenge for UK food and drink manufacturers, particularly in the beverage sector, where sugars and alcohol contribute significantly to COD levels. If BOD or COD are too high when wastewaters are released into the environment, this can lead to pollution with significant consequences, including anoxia and algal blooms. Treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis and DAF are employed to reduce COD concentrations and ensure compliance with UK discharge regulations.
Suspended solids and FOG
The presence of suspended solids and fats, oils, and grease in wastewater can cause blockages in treatment systems and negatively affect water quality if these substances are not fully removed before treatment. DAF technology is widely used in the UK to remove these contaminants, particularly in dairy and meat processing industries where FOG is a common issue.
What technologies are used for wastewater treatment?
We have mentioned several advanced technologies above that are employed to manage wastewater generated by the food and beverage industry. These technologies are designed to treat organic waste, remove pollutants, and support water reuse in line with strict UK environmental regulations. Here, we will explain in more detail how each of these technologies works.
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion is widely used across the food and beverage sector to treat high-BOD wastewater, particularly from industries with high organic waste loads, such as meat and dairy processing. This biological process breaks down organic material without oxygen to produce biogas - mainly methane - that can be used as a renewable energy source.
This process not only supports sustainability goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels but also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable energy. The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association has actively promoted the expansion of this technology by emphasising its role in achieving net-zero emissions.
For anaerobic digestion to perform optimally, parameters such as pH, temperature, and microbial balance must be carefully managed. When executed correctly, this process efficiently reduces BOD and COD levels, making it ideal for food processing wastewater. This need for precision is why manufacturers often turn to third-party waste disposal experts for support.
Dissolved air flotation
Dissolved air flotation is a highly effective treatment technology used widely in UK industries with high levels of fats, oils, and grease, such as dairy and meat processing. The process works by injecting air into the wastewater, which forms microscopic bubbles that attach to suspended solids and FOG. These particles then float to the surface, where they are removed. DAF helps to make sure that FOG does not interfere with downstream biological treatment processes or clog sewer systems.
In the UK, DAF systems are critical for industries subject to Environmental Permitting Regulations, as they allow manufacturers to meet strict discharge requirements and avoid fines or other penalties. The removal of FOG and suspended solids also enhances the efficiency of subsequent treatment technologies, and is typically part of the primary treatment of any wastewater that is likely to contain solid matter.
Membrane bioreactors
Membrane bioreactors combine traditional biological treatment with membrane filtration to treat wastewater. This technology is particularly valuable for food and beverage industry stakeholders, for whom space is often a constraint. MBRs offer a compact solution for treating large volumes of wastewater and produce high-quality effluent that is low in BOD, COD, and suspended solids.
MBRs are ideal for recycling wastewater for non-potable uses such as cleaning and cooling, aligning with the UK's goals for water conservation. They help food and beverage manufacturers to meet stringent environmental regulations while also reducing water consumption, making them a sustainable option for wastewater management.
Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF)
Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration are advanced filtration technologies that are widely adopted to treat wastewater in the food and beverage industry. These technologies use semi-permeable membranes to filter out dissolved solids, salts, and other contaminants to make the water suitable for reuse in non-potable applications.
RO and NF are particularly important in areas facing water scarcity, as they allow businesses to recycle treated wastewater and reduce the demand for fresh water. As such, the use of RO and NF supports the drive towards a circular economy by facilitating the reuse of water resources to reduce overall wastewater volumes.
Both of these technologies could be vital for food and beverage manufacturers looking to enhance their environmental performance by minimising water waste. By implementing advanced treatment technologies, stakeholders in the food and beverage industry can effectively manage their wastewater, support sustainability and regulatory compliance, and meet both operational and environmental goals in terms of water use.
What are the challenges of wastewater management?
The UK has stringent regulations that govern the treatment and discharge of industrial wastewater. If food and beverage manufacturers intend to release water into the environment, they must comply with the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, which specify limits for pollutants such as BOD, COD, and suspended solids.
Failure to comply can lead to substantial fines and legal action by the Environment Agency.
To navigate these challenges, manufacturers must invest in advanced treatment systems and continuous monitoring to ensure that they meet regulatory standards. However, there can be several challenges involved in meeting these obligations.
As we have noted, large-scale food processing facilities produce vast quantities of wastewater, which puts pressure on treatment systems. These facilities require technologies that can handle fluctuating volumes and high loads of organic material. Anaerobic digestion and membrane bioreactors are increasingly popular due to their ability to manage organic waste efficiently, while automated monitoring systems help ensure that treatment processes remain consistent and compliant with the law.
However, these technologies can be expensive. It is often more cost-effective for producers to work with third-party wastewater treatment specialists, who can scale their services to meet fluctuations in demand and rely on the latest technology to bring
What are the environmental impacts of inadequately treated wastewater?
Eutrophication
If not treated properly, wastewater from food and beverage manufacturing can lead to eutrophication in natural waterways like rivers and lakes. High levels of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, can cause excessive algae growth, depleting oxygen levels and killing aquatic life. This is a major concern for the Environment Agency, which regulates nutrient discharges to protect UK water bodies. Proper treatment using technologies like biological nutrient removal is essential for preventing these environmental side-effects.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Untreated wastewater with high organic content can produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This has well-known negative effects on the environment and the UK has committed to strict targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across all industries. Failure to take action and treat wastewater effectively could lead to regulatory challenges for food and beverage manufacturers.
Soil and groundwater contamination
Improper disposal of untreated wastewater can lead to soil and groundwater contamination, especially where wastewater contains heavy metals or pathogens. Manufacturers should use advanced filtration and membrane technologies to remove these harmful substances before discharge to protect agricultural land and drinking water supplies.
How can businesses meet the standards for wastewater discharge?
Before wastewater can be discharged into UK water bodies or public sewer systems, it must meet strict effluent quality standards. This often requires advanced treatment, such as biological nutrient removal and disinfection, to reduce nutrient levels and eliminate pathogens. Because the food and beverage industry generates a diverse array of wastewater types, each with its own unique set of challenges, managing this wastewater effectively can be challenging and require a combination of technologies.
As the industry shifts towards sustainability and circular economy practices, it is essential for companies to adopt these innovative wastewater treatment solutions. Partnering with a third-party provider like Universal Tankers can help businesses to navigate the complexities of wastewater management, comply with regulations and reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
By investing in the right wastewater management solutions, businesses not only maintain operational efficiency but can also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Universal Tankers provides expert solutions tailored to the needs of food and beverage manufacturers, from effective treatment technologies to ongoing support for sustainable water use.
Contact Us
Call us today on 0800 180 4474 (England and Wales) or 01236 444322 (Scotland), or use our online enquiry form to request a call back.
