How Ozone Helps Food & Beverage Companies Protect the Water in Their Agricultural Supply Chains
This past August, California passed emergency restrictions that will prevent thousands of farmers from drawing freshwater from an enormous watershed of rivers and streams that services almost two-thirds of the state. Why? California has been battling a severe drought that has caused calamitous water shortages. Without these restrictions, California’s drinking water supply will be in grave danger should the drought continue through next year.
The plight of California highlights a universal fact: we need ample, clean freshwater to produce food and crops to feed our citizens. So, what can the agricultural sector do to combat climate change and protect its water supply? Several influential agricultural giants have committed to joining the Ceres/WWF AgWater Challenge, an initiative led by Ceres and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that aims to protect freshwater in their supply chains.
Participating companies – including Danone North America, Ingredion, Mars, Kellogg’s, Pepsico and General Mills -- are introducing practices across their supply chains that improve soil health and manage nutrients for key agricultural commodities produced in high-risk watersheds.
These practices have been shown to improve crop productivity, reduce erosion, increase water holding capacity in the soil, improve water quality, promote biodiversity and, in many cases, increase soil carbon levels. All of this results in an agricultural production system that is better able to withstand climate change challenges like drought and severe weather, thereby providing some stability for agricultural businesses. Ozone water purification systems can play a key role in helping companies meet the Ceres/WWF AgWater Challenge. Here’s how:
Ozone can provide high-quality water for the entire supply chain
Ozone works without chemicals or consumables to disinfect and treat water to premium quality, on-demand. When dissolved in water, it literally splits organism cells instantly, resulting in an immediate kill of virtually all bacteria, virus and cysts. It is recognized as the fastest and strongest method of disinfection in both the U.S. and Canada – faster and more powerful than Peroxyacetic acid (PAA), chlorine or Ultra Violet (UV). Ozone is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Association and Health Canada.
From surface water, to wells or municipal water sources, ozone will effectively treat organics, metals and even many contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and petrochemicals.
Ozone also removes colour, taste and odor from the water - even H2S (hydrogen sulphide). It has no impact on pH levels and, unlike chlorine which persists in the water and makes by-products, ozone converts back to oxygen before use.
Ozone effectively treats pesticides and organic compounds resulting in improved wastewater quality
Ozone is a superior treatment for the removal of pesticides and organics that are common in the agricultural supply chain and ultimately end up as discharge in freshwater bodies. Advanced ozone technology is environmentally friendly because it is a chemical-free treatment, energy efficient and sustainable. It also helps reduce additional municipal wastewater fees as a result of the improved quality of the wastewater.
Ozone can effectively reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is the amount of oxygen consumed to chemically oxidize organic water contaminants to inorganic end products. It is a measure of water and wastewater quality.
Many of the cleaning agents used in agricultural food production and sanitation contribute to high levels of COD.
Ozone does not create or contribute to COD, and is effective at reducing COD levels in both incoming source water and outgoing wastewater. When used to treat incoming source water, it can eliminate or significantly reduce the need for toxic chemicals and cleaning agents throughout the entire production process. It is also an effective water treatment for the organic compounds that are often a part of food production and processing.
No harmful chemicals are used, so wastewater has no harmful chemical residual going back into the watershed
Ozone is environmentally friendly and produces better quality wastewater. When dissolved in water, ozone simply breaks down to oxygen, improving the quality of effluent to help meet discharge guidelines and/or reducing the load on wastewater treatment plants. The water going back into the watershed is also rich in oxygen, which protects and improves watershed ecosystems and marine species.
By contrast, chlorine persists in the water and creates by-products that can negatively affect the watershed.
Ozone can result in increased crop productivity
Ozone increases dissolved oxygen in the water that helps crops grow and improves yields. Ozone is safe for plants and roots and can treat most water sources to reduce potential contaminants from entering the entire food chain.
Ozone results in reduced water consumption and greater re-use of water
Unlike other sanitation methods that require a hot water chemical rinse followed by a final cold water rinse, ozone sanitation simply requires a single cold water rinse, saving water, chemicals and process time. In addition, ozone offers an ideal re-use option for final rinse in a closed production loop, further lessening the amount of water used and wasted. This wastewater can even be re-used for not-potable purposes, further conserving water.
Ozone lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Since ozone eliminates the need for hot water rinses in production processes, less energy is required in the production chain, which effectively lowers greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the production and transport of chemicals – such as chlorine – to the production site contributes to GHG emissions. Since ozone is produced onsite and on demand, GHG emissions are further reduced.
Ozone is a superior chemical-free solution for washing produce
Ozone is the strongest commercially available water disinfectant on the market that can be safely used to rinse and sanitize products without adverse impacts. Even when applied directly to produce straight from the field, ozone effectively sanitizes the product – without the use of chemicals – to improve product quality, safety and shelf-life. Ozone treats bacteria, viruses, and cysts, as well as fungus, mold, organics, and more. The end result is safer produce for consumers, and chemical-free wastewater that won’t contaminate watersheds.
Ozone is an effective treatment for Clean in Place (CIP), saving time, water and energy costs
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Association and Health Canada, aqueous ozone can be used for multiple cleaning purposes in agricultural supply chains. It is commonly used for surfaces (equipment, walls, floors, tables) as well as pipes, supply lines, cooling towers and other equipment.
Using ozone for CIP is quickly becoming the standard in sanitation because it reduces the use of chemicals, lowers hydro costs, shortens the cleaning time, and produces better quality wastewater that can be re-used for non-potable purposes.