Water Re-use in UK's Agricultural and Beverage Industries

July 18, 2024


The Met Office predicts that the UK will see a future decrease in rainfall of up to 12%, coupled with hotter, drier summers, leading to more frequent and severe droughts nationwide. Consequently, the effective management of our water resources will continue to pose a significant challenge, along with fluctuating levels of supply and demand.


In 2020, the EU implemented legislation to encourage the use of treated reused water for crop irrigation. As of 2023, new regulations were introduced to promote and facilitate water reuse throughout the EU.


We asked Harriet Robson, our Senior Water Resources Specialist, for her opinion on effluent reuse in the beverage and agricultural industry here in the UK.


Harriet, can you tell us more about water re-use for UK agricultural irrigation?


Although water reuse occurs within the UK, the rate is low, with only 0.06% of wastewater being reused in England in 2020 compared to 2.4% across the EU. In the agricultural industry, this is likely due to the technical, regulatory, and operational challenges that many agricultural businesses face.


Depending on the type of crop, there are several constraints that agricultural businesses need to be aware of, including:


  • Minimum reclaimed water quality class
  • Irrigation methods
  • Monitoring requirements
  • Risk management frameworks
  • Permitting requirements


What are the benefits of re-using water in this industry?


Reusing water in the agricultural industry offers several benefits, including:


  • Reducing pressure on water abstraction: Decreases the need to draw water from natural sources, preserving freshwater supplies for other uses.
  • Conserving environmental water resources: Helps maintain ecosystems and biodiversity by reducing the abstraction of water from rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
  • Providing a reliable water supply: Ensures a consistent supply of water for irrigation, particularly during droughts or periods of water scarcity.
  • Mitigating climate change impacts: Helps to manage the effects of climate change on water availability, making agricultural practices more resilient to changing weather patterns.


How is the UK impacted by these regulations?


Since the UK is no longer part of the EU, it is not bound by EU regulations. Currently, the UK lacks specific regulations governing water reuse in industry. However, an international standard for treated wastewater reuse in irrigation projects can serve as a guideline. The agri-food industry, the UK's largest manufacturing sector, relies heavily on irrigation to maintain crop yields and meet quality standards for processors and retailers.


With increasing water demand and a changing climate, it is crucial to establish adequate legislation for water reuse in agricultural irrigation. Such legislation should include a risk assessment process to ensure reused water is safe for consumers and farmers. With safety being a key factor, this has the potential to encourage the future adoption of water reuse by agri-businesses.


The Water for Food Group


At Envireau Water, we have been actively participating in the Water for Food Group for several years, aiming to elevate the importance of water in food production. While water companies across the UK often integrate water resource management and drought plans into their operations, the Government has yet to recognise water for food production as an essential need. This lack of structured planning for resilience, investment, and drought management in the agricultural sector could lead to significant crop losses and major issues during drought conditions.


I am proud to serve as the Chair of the Water for Food Task and Finish Group, where I had the privilege to help ensure that water for food is recognised as an essential need and remains available in adequate and environmentally safe amounts.


How does water re-use differ in the beverage industry?


Water reuse is vital in the beverage industry, from irrigating ingredients like barley, to being a key component of the final product.


Earlier in the year, the WateReuse Association published the release of a new white paper on advancing water reuse within the beverage industry. The paper explores related stakeholder engagement, regulatory, treatment, and technology issues along with key hurdles and near, medium, and long-term solutions to advance water reuse practices at beverage manufacturing plants.


Many UK brewing companies currently utilise water reuse for non-potable processes. However, recycled water is not yet used for ingredients or product purposes due to cautious attitudes towards water reuse driven by public perception. It is generally assumed that, as water resources become scarcer and treatment technologies advance, water could be used in this manner in the future.


The white paper cites examples from California, where several breweries have implemented process water re-use and now recycle up to 95%.


One of our brewing clients operating in the EU and the UK exemplifies effective and sustainable water resource management. They have successfully reduced water consumption at all production plants by nearly 40% and currently utilise reverse osmosis to recycle water at many of their breweries.


Any final points, Harriet?


Although water reuse does occur within the UK agricultural industry, the uptake of this needs to improve and water for food must be recognised as an essential need nationwide. With increasing water demand and a changing climate, it is crucial for the Government to establish adequate legislation to help maintain crop yields, reduce pressure on abstraction and maintain a reliable, sustainable water supply.


Specialists like myself and Tamsin Morey can assist you in designing and managing your business's water supply and discharge, whether you are in agriculture, the beverage industry, or any other sector.


Contact us on 01332 871 882 to discuss your options, or contact HarrietRobson@envireauwater.co.uk or TamsinMorey@envireauwater.co.uk.



About Envireau Water


At Envireau Water, we are a team of expert water scientists and engineers, who provide guidance on the management and regulation of natural water systems across the UK. By working collaboratively with our clients and the regulators, we deliver robust sustainable solutions that meet the requirements of all stakeholders. With an incredibly loyal client base and our ability to work seamlessly throughout the four nations of the UK, many of our clients know us individually and trust us to find resolutions to their water problems for years to come. 


Connect with us on LinkedIn to hear the latest industry developments and updates regarding our team. 


Envireau Water is an RSK Group Company. 

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