Water Usage and Effluent Production in Whitefish Processing - A Summary of Seven Water and Effluent Audits

Summary

From 2001 The Urban Water Treatment Directive will add greatly to the cost and difficulty of disposing of waste water. This will present a significant problem to the fish industry in the future, coastal businesses will be charged on the strength and volume of their effluent. The stronger the effluent and the greater the quantity, the higher the treatment costs. As a result, many fish processors will face dramatically increased charges from the water companies for the production, treatment and disposal of effluent. To determine possible future costs and identify ways of reducing these costs, detailed water and effluent audits were carried out in seven representative whitefish processing companies. This report summarises the findings of the seven audits and highlights the costs and common problems found with water usage and effluent production. Simple solutions to these problems are also outlined.

Publication Reference No.

SR514

Publication date

01 February 1998