In a world where over 70% of freshwater is used for agriculture and where we lose the equivalent of 20,000 Olympic swimming pools every day due to inefficient practices, every drop not reused is a missed opportunity. In this context, fruit processing plants play a critical yet often overlooked role: they are high-consumption nodes, but also fertile ground for innovation that can unlock environmental, economic, and social benefits with measurable impact. This project was born to transform that reality—by redesigning the fruit washing process, one of the most water-intensive operations in the agrifood industry, through technologies that recover up to 80% of the water used, eliminate reliance on harsh chemicals, and reduce the water footprint per kilogram of final product.
The intervention takes place in a citrus packing facility located in southern Spain, a region facing increasing water stress, where regulations on discharges and water efficiency are becoming more stringent. The strategic objective is clear: to maximize circular water use within the operation, reduce pressure on external sources, and ensure that the water used in washing poses no sanitary or environmental risks. Through a modular system based on advanced oxidation, physical filtration, and non-chlorine disinfection, the project not only guarantees a continuous stream of regenerated water, but also meets health standards that protect consumers and reduce the generation of contaminated wastewater.
The project is led by a consortium composed of the agro-industrial operating company, a technology provider specializing in chemical-free reuse, the Aqua Positive platform as the technical structurer under VWBA/WQBA standards, and an independent verification entity ensuring full traceability of the recovered water and its public health impacts. The solution complies with the three core principles of a Water Positive project: intentionality, as it is specifically designed to generate measurable benefits; additionality, by implementing a new technology that did not exist at the facility before; and traceability, through physical and digital monitoring of volumes and microbiological quality.
This project was driven by a specific operational and regulatory opportunity: to drastically reduce the high use of potable water in the fruit washing process, where up to 3 liters per kilogram of fruit were previously consumed, with no reuse due to cross-contamination risks and organic load accumulation. The solution replaces the conventional system with a closed-loop recovery circuit that combines flotation, ultrafiltration, and advanced oxidation technologies, enabling the same wash water to be reused for up to five cycles without compromising quality or food safety. The volume transformed reaches up to 12,000 m³ per harvest season—equivalent to the annual potable water use of more than 100 households.
The benefits manifest at three levels: first, a direct reduction in freshwater extraction from an aquifer classified as at risk by the basin authority; second, the elimination of hypochlorite and acid use in washing, reducing occupational hazards, hazardous waste generation, and equipment corrosion; and third, the generation of high-quality regenerated water, with continuous microbiological monitoring, which can even be reused for pre-washing or machinery cleaning. Simultaneously, it avoids the discharge of contaminated water into sewage systems or agricultural surroundings, aligning with the EU’s new circular water use and reuse directives.
The model is fully scalable to other agribusiness plants—from grapes to leafy greens—and can be led by large exporters or cooperatives seeking to improve their ESG indicators. By adopting this solution, companies not only comply with tightening regulations but also access a verified and powerful sustainability narrative: they produce more with less, protect local water resources, and ensure safe food without compromising public health. In a world where consumers increasingly value transparency and environmental responsibility, this project positions its stakeholders as champions of a new way of producing.
The project proposes installing a patented chemical-free advanced oxidation and disinfection system, specifically developed to transform water treatment in agro-industrial processes through innovative physicochemical principles. Unlike traditional systems that rely on chlorinated disinfectants or harsh detergents, this solution generates oxidizing agents in situ from naturally occurring minerals in water (e.g., chlorides). This controlled generation of reactive species enables effective disinfection without external chemical inputs and avoids the formation of toxic by-products.
Key features of the solution include:
This intervention is highly replicable, environmentally low-impact, and offers quick operational payback.
Project implementation includes a comprehensive phase covering installation, configuration, and commissioning of a water treatment and management system designed to optimize water use in agro-industrial processes. It encompasses integration into existing production lines, staff training, and validation of initial results. The transition will ensure uninterrupted operations and compliance with health and environmental regulations.
Technologies Applied
Rational water use in the agro-food industry demands solutions that not only optimize water resources but also uphold or enhance product safety and quality. This project introduces a high-efficiency water treatment and management system aligned with circular economy principles and reduced environmental impact.
The technology includes real-time digital monitoring, critical quality parameter control, and closed-loop operation, enabling a significant reduction in total water consumption and waste generation.
Monitoring Plan
A continuous monitoring program will measure total volumes of water used, reused, and discharged. The main objective is to verify reductions in the use of conventional external water sources, thereby easing pressure on local water resources. Periodic checks will also be conducted on the quality of reused water to ensure its suitability for continued use, with performance evaluated against historical records.
Key Partnerships
The project is supported by collaboration between a specialized water efficiency technology provider, the agro-industrial operator, a third-party certifier for water benefit accounting, and the local basin authority to ensure alignment with regional water management objectives.
This project aims to transform industrial fruit and vegetable washing systems into more efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible models. It responds to increasing water stress and the need for technologies that meet sustainability goals, environmental regulations, and food safety standards.
In water-intensive agro-industrial settings, heavy reliance on potable water, use of chemical disinfectants, and production of hard-to-treat effluents present an unsustainable scenario—especially in water-scarce or environmentally sensitive regions.
The project introduces a chemical-free disinfection system that enables closed-loop water reuse, significantly cutting external water use and minimizing hazardous liquid waste. The modular intervention integrates seamlessly into existing systems without disrupting production and features real-time monitoring for traceability and continuous improvement.
Key actions include installation, commissioning, monitoring, result validation, and external auditing, supported by a partnership strategy involving the technology provider, agro-industrial operator, certifiers, and regulators. The ultimate goal is to establish a replicable model showing how innovation in water use can drive food industry sustainability by generating measurable benefits in water efficiency, water quality, and environmental impact reduction.
