Drop2Drink unit: purified rainwater for the food processing industry

Title

Drop2Drink unit: purified rainwater for the food processing industry

Duration

12 March 2020 / 15 February 2021

VIDA Challenges

Resource-efficient food processing

Summary

Problem description

The availability of save drinking water is under pressure worldwide, already more than 2 billion people face a lack of it. Drinking water is produced by drinking water companies which generally this from groundwater and surface water. However these sources are getting exhausted and/or polluted. With 5% of the total consumption the food processing industry is a large consumer of drinking water, so if we want to safeguard our drinking water supply, we will also have to tackle water consumption in the food industry. An alternative source may be rainwater, however the quality of it is not sufficient for direct use for food production.

Solution

With this project we want to demonstrate that rainwater can be a perfect source for food production. At two demonstration sites, Uytewaal Catering and Hooghoudt Distillery, we will set up a rainwater harvesting and purification system with the Drop2Drink unit. We will show that:

1. Rainwater can be purified into drinking water
2. Food processors can harvest and purify rainwater themselves
3. A rainwater purification system can be implemented in a professional production process

The water quality will be tested by WLN in accordance to the Dutch Drinking water legislation. The results will be published and used for discussions with the Dutch Government and RIVM with the aim of recognizing rainwater as a source for the production of drinking water. This can then serve to amend European drinking water legislation.

Value for the food value chain

We will show that the intake of drinking water by food processors can be reduced up to 50%. This will not only save them money, but also save the environment and water sources and therewith safeguard water supply for the food industry in the future.