"Government approval is missing": agribusiness faces ban on wastewater recycling

Louise Sallé 12:08 p.m., March 30, 2023, modified at 12:08 p.m., March 30, 2023

Emmanuel Macron is to announce this Thursday his "Water Plan". The President of the Republic is expected to unveil about fifty measures to prepare the territories to face the summer drought and rethink the use of water in France, in order to save more.

An effort should be required from industry, a water-intensive sector because of the cooling and cleaning of machinery, two uses for which treated wastewater could be suitable. In any case, this is already the case in neighbouring countries, since European legislation allows it. On the other hand, it is prohibited in France in the context of agribusiness.

But the largest plant of the Danone group, located in Normandy in Ferrières-en-Bray, says it is ready to give a second life to wastewater, partly derived from whey (the scientific name for "whey") of its yogurts and cheeses, without endangering human health.

Waste water to cool and clean equipment

Inside the factory, intertwined pumps surround huge stainless steel tanks, to drive the yogurt until it is potted. "These pumps need to be cooled," says Bruno Mauduyt, plant manager. "Otherwise, the toppings heat up," he continues. "Typically, I wish we could use wastewater to cool this kind of equipment, and avoid wasting drinking water."

He would like to do the same with the tanks, which require several hundred liters of water with each cleaning. "The last rinse could be done with new water, because this water would be in direct contact with the product," says Bruno Mauduyt. "But for the first rinses, there is absolutely no contraindication to use gray water."

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Water recycling prohibited by the Public Health Code

Abroad, in its dairy manufacturing plants, Danone re-uses its water. On the other hand, it is forbidden in French agribusiness. "We cannot do it in France because the public health code obliges us to use only water from natural environments within our production tool," he laments.

"However, all of our water recycling tools are extremely beneficial for the environment and without any health consequences for humans," explains the director of the Ferrières-en-Bray plant.

"We have the solution and the money, we lack the government's approval"

The Normandy plant also has its own wastewater treatment plant. "At the exit, as you can see, we have perfectly clear water, fit for consumption," enthuses Bruno Mauduyt as he plunges his hand into the large water reserve behind the factory.

"We have the technical solution and we have the money - since the cost of use would be zero after an investment of 4 million euros in the recycling system - so today we are only waiting for the government's approval," he said.

The device has already been tested by Danone for three months and would save 200,000 cubic meters each year, or 30% of the plant's annual drinking water consumption.