Fonterra develops reuse water program at milk powder manufacturing plant
Now, rather than irrigate the excess water, the new reclaimed water system treats the excess water via reverse osmosis and chlorination before combining it with the site’s main water supply for general use.
Fonterra, New Zealand, developed an innovative way to reuse water from condensation that’s produced during the milk powder manufacturing process at its Pahiatua plant, what is dubbed as the world’s first earthquake-proof whole milk drying plant.
“Pahiatua is already Fonterra New Zealand’s most water efficient site, and some clever thinking has taken it to the next level,” says Robert Spurway, chief operating officer, global operations. “As an organization, we’ve committed to a 20% reduction in water use by 2020. Pahiatua is well ahead of the game.”