Robert Wiseman Dairies, one of the UK's largest milk suppliers, has set itself a target of reducing water use across its network of dairies by 25% by 2015. 

Robert Wiseman supplies 30% of all the milk consumed in the UK - its Bridgwater dairy can process one and a quarter million litres every day. 

Bridgwater, one of the UK's most advanced dairies, produces about 400m3/day of process wastewater which is treated and then discharged to the local rhyne.  Now 200m3/day of that process wastewater is being recovered by reverse osmosis technology provided by ELGA Process Water, a Veolia Water & Solutions company, and recycled for use in the dairy.

ELGA Process Water's MegaRO reverse osmosis technology uses a membrane to remove 99% of residual COD, dissolved salts and bacteria from the treated wastewater, producing water of quality at least equal to the mains supply. MegaRO's low pressure membranes and high efficiency pumps make it one of the most energy efficient plants on the market, and low energy use means not only reduced carbon emissions but also low operating costs.

Although the main driver for the project was Robert Wiseman Dairies' commitment to reducing its water footprint, there is a major economic spinoff. Project Manager Eleanor Walton commented: 

"Because the operating cost of the MegaRO is low, the recovered water actually costs less than mains water even after including capital amortisation. We expect to get a payback on the £130k investment in about 2 and half years." 

Although the plant has only been in operation for 10 months, the results have given the company enough confidence to be talking to ELGA Process Water about a second plant to recover a further 80m3/day of the wastewater.