In a context of increasing water stress and volatile water tariffs, continuing to use potable water only once in industrial processes is no longer just a waste, it is a structural barrier to sustainable development. The agro-food industry in Eastern Spain, operating in some of the most water-stressed basins in the country, such as the Segura and Júcar, faces a dilemma that reflects a global challenge: maintaining high sanitary standards while adapting to a world that demands efficiency, circularity, and climate resilience.
This project offers a concrete, measurable, and scalable response: transforming the container-washing process, one of the most water-intensive stages in fruit and vegetable packing plants, into a circular system capable of reusing up to 80% of its water. To achieve this, a modular on-site treatment system is installed, requiring no chemicals, posing no disruption to production logistics, and fully complying with hygiene and food safety regulations. It is a visionary solution that breaks the linear consumption-discharge model and converts a point of loss into a node of efficiency.
The change is profound. We are no longer merely reducing volumes—we are redefining the paradigm of industrial water use. Each reused liter means less pressure on overexploited coastal aquifers, fewer indirect emissions from pumping and transport, and greater regulatory compliance in an increasingly demanding market. This project enables not only alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6, 9, 12, 13, and 17) but also generates traceable Water Benefits under the VWBA methodology, ensuring each cubic meter recovered is real, additional, and intentional.
In essence, this intervention combines clean technology, measurable impact, and strong governance to turn a water-related challenge into a competitive advantage. Companies that adopt this model will not only optimize their operations but also position themselves as sustainability leaders in one of Europe’s most strategic food production sectors.
The opportunity arises from a silent but widespread inefficiency: in thousands of agro-food plants, potable water is used once to wash crates, bottles, and containers, and then discarded, generating graywater with contaminant loads that require additional treatment. This linear model is costly, environmentally unsustainable, and increasingly risky from both regulatory and reputational standpoints. In response, the project proposes a modular, automated, chemical-free solution that allows water to be safely recovered and reused without compromising hygiene or interfering with critical production processes.
The implemented technology combines physical solid removal, reagent-free advanced oxidation, and chlorine-free disinfection (via UV or electrokinetic methods), all monitored in real time by digital sensors that ensure water quality before reinjection. The system is installed directly on the washing line and adapts to different plant configurations. This approach avoids up to 80% of new water consumption and reduces more than 70% of effluent generation. In a standard facility, this translates into annual savings of over 15,000 m³ of potable water, the equivalent consumption of about 200 households, and the prevention of over 10 tons of discharged pollutants per year.
The intervention is led by industrial plant operators, specialized technology providers, and external auditors under the VWBA/WQBA framework. Full traceability is ensured through digital platforms that record flows, quality metrics, and operational events, allowing water benefits to be validated and replicated with precision.
This model is scalable, replicable, and economically viable. Any company with ESG goals, sustainability certifications, or pressure to reduce water footprints can adopt this solution as a transformation lever. It is fully aligned with key public policies such as the Spanish National Hydrological Plan, the EU Water Framework Directive, and the EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance.
In a world where water access increasingly defines business continuity, this project turns a routine operation into a bold statement, and does so with proven technology, immediate impact, and a compelling story worth sharing.
The proposed solution involves installing a real-time treatment and recirculation system for wash water, integrated in a modular fashion within the production line without interfering with critical hygiene or quality processes. This system is designed to operate without the addition of chemicals and with low energy consumption, making it a low-impact, high-efficiency solution.
This intervention enables up to an 80% reduction in the use of primary water sources, more than a 70% decrease in effluent volume, and avoidance of chemical products in sanitation processes, significantly reducing operating costs, energy consumption, and regulatory risks related to discharge or food safety.
The project is implemented in the eastern region of Spain (Levante), where multiple fruit and vegetable packaging plants operate in areas facing high structural water stress, such as the Segura River Basin, the Júcar River Basin, and coastal zones within the Vinalopó-Alacantí Water District. These basins are characterized by low natural water availability, high agricultural and industrial pressure, and increasing vulnerability to climate change.
By reducing the use of potable water sourced from municipal networks or groundwater extractions, and by minimizing industrial discharges, the project contributes to improving the local water balance, alleviating overexploitation of coastal aquifers, and reducing pressure on wastewater infrastructure.
This approach aligns with the priorities of the Spanish National Hydrological Plan and the goals of the EU Water Framework Directive, by promoting on-site water reuse and efficiency in key productive sectors of the region.
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Water reuse in industrial processes is a key strategy to move toward more sustainable water management, especially in sectors like food processing, where sanitary and quality requirements necessitate intensive resource use. This project offers a concrete solution to transform one of the most critical production stages—container washing—into an opportunity for efficiency, savings, and circularity.
The proposed model comprehensively addresses technical, operational, and governance aspects of water management. On one hand, it introduces physical-chemical treatment technologies and chemical-free disinfection, removing common barriers to recirculation in food environments. On the other hand, it enables full control of the system through automation and smart sensors, ensuring quality parameters remain within limits set by regulations and internal protocols.
At the plant level, implementing this solution brings multiple positive impacts:
From an environmental perspective, the intervention delivers concrete benefits to basin water balance and enhances operational resilience to water stress or tariff increases. Socially, the project can align with corporate responsibility strategies through staff training, partnerships with local organizations, or replication in nearby communities.
In summary, this intervention not only solves a technical issue but also structurally transforms how water is managed within a food processing plant. Its replicability, relatively low cost, and high return in sustainability and compliance make it an effective tool for companies seeking leadership in water stewardship and ecological transition.
