Background
Algoma Orchards is the largest independently-owned apple grower and packing company in Canada with a 500-acre apple orchard in the municipality of Clarington. The business has been in the Gibson and Kemp families for eight generations. Algoma ships one million boxes of fresh apples and seven million litres of fresh apple juice across Canada each year.
Apple juice is a recent product for Algoma and requires a lot of water where supplies are scarce. With long-term sustainability in mind, Algoma Orchards prioritized water reuse and conservation and implemented a water recycling system when expanding their business.
Taking action
To treat and recycle the waste water created through apple juice production, Algoma Orchards invested in a wastewater treatment and recycling system known as System HydroKleen. Here’s how it works:
- Water first passes through the bioreactor where active bacteria consume or digest the organics or waste present in the water.
- The partially treated water then passes through ultraviolet and reverse osmosis membranes to remove remaining bacteria and other elements.
- Chlorine is added to kill any residual bacteria.
Through this process, the water is upgraded to drinking water quality and reused to clean equipment.
Achieving results
The wastewater treatment and recycling system provides significant water savings for Algoma Orchards — most of the water used in their production is treated and reused. Over the next few decades, Algoma Orchards estimates that they will reduce their water use by 80 per cent.
Algoma Orchards offers tours to industry, researchers and international experts. By spreading their knowledge, Algoma Orchards is motivating and inspiring others to adopt similar practices.
