Abstract Summary
It is estimated that South Africa produces over 1 billion chickens per year, where chicken stands as the leading source of meat protein in South Africa with an average annual consumption of 39 kg’s per person. The use of water in the slaughtering process alone is between 9 -15 litres per chicken. The chicken production facility is located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, where day zero is fast approaching due to an extended climate-induced drought. The facility is dependent on water from the local Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality which, as a result of system inefficiencies and inadequate investment, has struggled to provide a continuous water supply with consistent water qualities to its chicken production facility. To address these challenges, one of the largest chicken production facilities turned to Talbot for alternative water solutions. Motivated by the need for sustainable practices and water security, our innovative approach focused on recovering and treating wastewater to meet stringent reuse standards. The novelty of our work lies in the integration of advanced technologies to create a comprehensive wastewater management system that not only meets but exceeds current industry standards. We implemented a system comprising a Dissolved Air Flotation Unit, Membrane Bioreactor, Reverse Osmosis, and advanced oxidation processes to effectively remove contaminants of emerging concern. This solution achieves over 80% water recovery, reducing municipal water consumption by more than 73% and enhancing water security for surrounding communities. By pioneering this approach, we demonstrate a scalable model for sustainable water management in agro-processing industries facing similar challenges.
