Water quality definitions and the need for a risk assessment approach in water reuse

Water & Energy StageEnglish

Reusing water makes good sense for the environmental footprint of the food industry. Current EU food hygiene legislation requires the use of potable water in food processing, however, there are legal options for use of different types of water including water reclaimed from food and spent potable water. In this context, it is essential to demonstrate that treated process water can be used without affecting the safety of the final food products.

For this purpose, the framework of a formal risk assessment is suggested to guide the design of the water treatment and document control with all identified microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards.

This presentation will share some of the steps and considerations taken in concrete industrial water reuse projects.