Keeping up with regulations and food safety
PROBLEM
A major food processor with facilities in multiple states was facing increasing regulation on water usage and the effects of reprocessing on food safety. They were looking for a partner to formulate and execute a plan to operate more efficiently and with cleaner recycling programs for their entire operation.
SOLUTION
Our work began with a full evaluation of their current processes. We then moved quickly into design, permitting and management of land treatment systems. The solutions eventually ranged from constructed wetlands and direct land application to secondary treatment followed by land application.
Meanwhile, we also prepared irrigation and crop management plans, hydrogeologic evaluations, Tier II antidegradation studies, monitoring plans, operation and maintenance manuals, land treatment site characterizations and facility engineering reports. Our hydrogeologists planned and supervised installation of groundwater monitoring networks at multiple locations while the rest of the team developed plans for monitoring groundwater, surface water, soil properties and crop harvest.
We achieved all of this specific to respective facility locations and applicable state regulations.
RESULTS
This client saved so much water (and expense) system-wide that our work continues today with ongoing services like land management advising, data analysis, regulatory negotiations, water resources planning, soil sampling and soil moisture monitoring.