R&R Ice Cream - Case study: Water efficiency

Since committing to the Federation House Commitment, R&R Ice Cream has been focusing on ways to maximise efficiency through the introduction of new technological advances designed to improve water reuse.

A £1.5m effluent plant at the company's Leeming Bar site began operation in 2009. The plant uses the latest ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis technology and will reduce the effluent's chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids to zero. Installing this technology means that the amount discharged will be reduced by approximately 50% due to reuse and this will yield cost savings of approximately £100,000 to the company.

R&R Ice Cream will use the recycled water in the wash down and cleaning process, which equates to nearly 60% of water usage. By reusing water, the company is able to reduce its mains water consumption by around 25,000 m3, which will save a further £19,000.

Other measures at the Leeming Bar site include the removal of the majority of hosepipes and the encouragement of dry clean-up techniques.

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