Cargill is one of the main global processors and producers of edible oils such as organic, non-GMO sunflower oil and non-GMO soybean oil. The production process uses water as a raw material, cleaning agent and as feedwater for utilities and operations. One of Cargill’s sites in France had experienced frequent droughts in recent years. The company was looking for a solution that would enable it to reduce its freshwater intake while maintaining the stability and reliability of its production process.

Cargill turned to its longtime partner Ecolab, an industry leader in water and process management. The solution: recycling water from the site’s effluent, or wastewater, treatment plant for reuse in the plant’s cooling system. Ecolab’s 3D TRASAR™ Technology and Nalco Water’s Oxidant Controller were employed to monitor and control critical water performance indicators, such as scale, corrosion and microbial fouling.

A year after implementation of the wastewater recycling project, the plant was able to repurpose 93% of the wastewater for use in the cooling system. The recycled wastewater replaced 53% of the freshwater consumption in the cooling system. In addition, the plant’s wastewater discharge to the municipal sewer system was reduced by 93%. Through its partnership with Nalco Water, Cargill was able to become more resilient to water stresses in the watershed and help preserve drinking water in support of the French government’s efforts to prioritize and limit water use, particularly during drought conditions.