Reduce water-related costs in food & beverage production

The customer required water treatment solutions to meet stringent FDA and MHRA regulations to support global exports of Fisherman's Friend lozenges to over 100 countries. Veolia provided a solution for the production of purified water for the main production facility, where water is used as an ingredient, plus another system in the sugar-free facility delivering up to 1,000 litres/hour for final rinse applications. Key results include full compliance with FDA and MHRA regulatory requirements, a reliable water supply supporting the production of several million lozenges consumed globally every year, and scalable solutions that accommodate facility expansions to meet growing international demand.

A major UK dairy processor needed to reduce water costs and consumption, with the average UK dairy using 1.3 litres of water for every litre of milk processed, primarily for steam raising and cleaning in place (CIP) operations. Following successful pilot plant trials, Veolia provided a reverse osmosis system to recover 200m³/day of process wastewater for reuse in the CIP system, replacing mains water. Key results include operating costs lower than mains water supply (even including capital amortisation), significant savings on water consumption, and a rapid payback period of just 2.5 years, demonstrating the strong ROI of water recycling solutions.

Annandale Distillery required high-quality, consistent water for critical operations, including boiler steam production, spirit dilution and wash production that directly impacts whisky taste. The distillery owners sought a sustainable, self-sufficient water supply and needed to choose between expensive, variable-quality mains water or onsite borehole water requiring extensive treatment. Veolia conducted a detailed economic evaluation confirming borehole treatment as the optimal solution. Working closely with the Distillery Manager, Veolia developed a comprehensive water strategy featuring filtered borehole water compliant with drinking water standards, softening systems, and a reverse osmosis plant for demineralisation. Key results include 550 l/h of spirit reduction water production, 200 l/h of boiler feed water, water quality <10mg/l TDS, 125 l/h recycled through RO recovery, reducing the distillery's water footprint, plus bespoke boiler water conditioning chemicals—delivering consistent quality while ensuring sustainability and self-sufficiency.