WATER STEWARDSHIP IN DAIRIES...Water stewardship certification is evidence that allows dair-ies to...
Transcript of WATER STEWARDSHIP IN DAIRIES...Water stewardship certification is evidence that allows dair-ies to...
· European Water Stewardship · www.ews.info · [email protected]
WATER STEWARDSHIP IN DAIRIES
Livestock is responsible for 27% of global freshwater water
consumption, and dairy cattle account for the majority of
that consumption. 6.4 litres of water are needed to produce
1 litre of milk, for watering, feedlots, operations, cooling
and cleaning facilities.
As consumers increasingly demand that transparency and
sustainability, dairies have the opportunity to become
leaders in sustainable water management. Dairies are using
EWS to understand water flows through their operations
and identify areas where water can be reduced and/or re-
used.
Water stewardship certification is evidence that allows dair-
ies to assure consumers and investors that their products
have been manufactured in the most sustainable way, with
the responsible use of natural resources.
Learning about how much water is used helps dairies
plan their water needs: ensure that enough water is stored
for future use, identify where savings can be made, where
water can be recycled and plan for periods of shortages.
Dairies should assess water used for washing vats and
machines, cooling milk, cleaning sheds, spraying platforms,
washing the yard
Dairies are using this knowledge to establish ambitious sec-
tor-wide targets and engage in collective action with their
supply chain actor to reach those targets. Ensuring these
targets and the mitigation of other water related risks can
turn out to be very beneficial in the future for a sector
which continues to grow.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN DAIRIES?
Dairies are using the EWS standard via pre-screening or
certification to:
Understand and appreciate the amount of water used
Identify where and how water can be saved and how
to improve efficiency
Prepare for potential changes in licensing or regulation
Build trust with authorities and local suppliers
Communicate water management performance
EWS guides dairies to ‘assess, act and improve’ and im-
plement the best water management practices that im-
prove water management without creating unnecessary
duplication with other existing environmental schemes.
Furthermore, EWS helps dairies identify stakeholders for
collective water management. Given the various uses of
water within the sector, this is an integral aspect of a sus-
tainability program for dairies.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EWS FOR
THE DAIRY SECTOR?
For more information on opportunities for EWS implemen-
tation in dairies please contact please contact us
at: [email protected].
MORE INFORMATION ON EWS &
DAIRIES
· European Water Stewardship · www.ews.info · [email protected]
WATER STEWARDSHIP IN DAIRIES
.
SUPPLY CHAIN: ANIMAL FEED
Water consumed in the process of growing feed is a
major contribution to the water footprint of all animal
products. Likewise, the type of farming system affects
the quantity of feed needed as some approximations
quantify that grazing as opposed to concentrated
systems use three to four times more feed per unit of
product.
In order to reduce this overall impact on water
resources, dairy farmers should review the composition,
water requirements and origin of feed considering the
type of farming system in place.
WATER HOT TOPICS FOR DAIRIES
Irrigation
Dairy farms need information not only about water sources but also soil content to understand irrigation needs.
Water quality
Dairy farming and production in the EU is concentrated in specific geographical areas, which can lead to cumu-lative water quality and potentially water quantity impacts in a river basin.
For proper nitrogen management farmers must consider best management practices for runoff and leakage and possibly reduced grazing in sensitive areas.
Supply Chain
Wide range of indirect and direct water uses, from feed production to processing needs (chilling, pasteuriza-tion, and homogenization), requires careful evaluation of all water sources and effluents.
Need for transparency on environmental performance sector-wide to meet consumer demands.
Waste Water
High quantities of wastewater for cleaning purposes with fat and protein by-products require specialized treatment.
High COD and BOD loads in dairy processing are associated with high operational costs.
SAVE WITH ON-SITE WATER TREATMENT
Dairies are more frequently investing in water treatment
measures on site which not only increase efficiency but
actually result in associated long-term cost savings.
Aerobic or anaerobic biological treatment followed by
decantering of wastewater allows water to be reused in
dairy production processes. Estimates show that
enterprises which have installed on-site wastewater
treatments can lower operational costs by two thirds the
cost required of traditional treatment by municipal
wastewater treatment plants (Association of German
Dairying).