2. Water use in the food industry

Food processing industries are very demanding when it comes to water supply, both in terms of volume and quality.

• The volumes consumed by establishments engaged in the same agri-food activity are highly variable, depending not only on the process, but also on the level of waste and recycling. Because of its nature and properties, water is used in a wide range of applications, including the following:

  • washing and rinsing of raw materials on receipt, of products undergoing processing, and of finished products (tuber-cules, vegetables, fruit, fish);

  • washing of final packaging containers (bottles, jars, cans);

  • transport of raw materials, finished products (vegetables, fruit) and waste (stercorals, feathers);

  • ...