WATER RECLAMATION AND QUALITY
Hilmar Cheese Company operates technologically advanced water reclamation facilities at our processing facilities in California and Texas. Our California facility is the most advanced food processing water treatment and recycling facility found in the state and likely the nation. As part of our focus on resource conservation, nearly all of the water used in both facilities is reclaimed for use as irrigation water and used on local farmland or used internally for non-food production applications. Both facilities operate in full compliance with all applicable water quality requirements and are designed to be fully protective of groundwater and surface water resources.
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Click image to view PDF of the California process.
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California water reclamation facility.
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Over the past several years Hilmar Cheese Company has developed and now operates the most advanced food processing water reclamation and recycling facility in California. Since 2001, we have invested millions in capital, operations and maintenance in the water reclamation facility. Thanks to pioneering efforts by our dedicated staff and a tremendous investment of resources we are achieving our goal of reclaiming 100 percent of our highly treated process water for use by local farmers as irrigation water and for internal use for non-food applications. The reclaimed water is in very high demand due to chronic agricultural water shortages in the region.
The multi-stage water reclamation system is designed to remove organics and minerals (mostly salts) from our process water. Since 2006, the water reclamation facility has reduced Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in our highly treated process water to levels below those specified in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins Water Quality Basin Plan. Recycled water accounts for more than 70 percent of the water used at our California facility. We also treat our process water to produce clean irrigation water daily.
Read the Food Technology article about Hilmar Cheese Company's California facility.
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Click image to view PDF of the Texas process.
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Texas water reclamation facility.
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Our Dalhart treatment facility consists of a highly efficient multi-stage system made up of anaerobic digestion, aeration, and Irrigation storage ponds. Recycle water accounts for more that 60% of the water used at our Texas facility. We have achieved our goal of reclaiming 100% or our treated process water by utilizing it on irrigated crops such as corn, wheat, and alfalfa to offset commercial fertilizer and well water use.
