2001 AACC Annual Meeting Charlotte, North Carolina October 14-18, 2001 Charlotte Convention Center

This presentation will define the general requirements of the legal and regulatory structure affecting water use and management. Food processors will face increasing compliance requirements and costs in the coming year. Ingredient water must meet safe drinking water standards and those standards are being made more strict. Below background levels of copper, lead, zinc and arsenic as well as requirements for microbial contaminants may require the treatment of incoming water as well as discharge water. The requirement for an effective zero discharge limit has grave cost and logistic implications for food processors and publicly owned treatment works. The greatest challenge will be to adapt water treatment technology to meet zero lot line restrictions and stringent limits on water discharges. The presentation will also discuss some examples of the impact of regulatory government actions on the use and discharge of water by food manufactures.