· European Water Stewardship · www.ews.info · contact@ews.info

WATER STEWARDSHIP IN DAIRIES

Livestock is responsible for 27% of global freshwater water

consumption, and dairy cattle account for the majority of

that consumption. 6.4 litres of water are needed to produce

1 litre of milk, for watering, feedlots, operations, cooling

and cleaning facilities.

As consumers increasingly demand that transparency and

sustainability, dairies have the opportunity to become

leaders in sustainable water management. Dairies are using

EWS to understand water flows through their operations

and identify areas where water can be reduced and/or re-

used.

Water stewardship certification is evidence that allows dair-

ies to assure consumers and investors that their products

have been manufactured in the most sustainable way, with

the responsible use of natural resources.

Learning about how much water is used helps dairies

plan their water needs: ensure that enough water is stored

for future use, identify where savings can be made, where

water can be recycled and plan for periods of shortages.

Dairies should assess water used for washing vats and

machines, cooling milk, cleaning sheds, spraying platforms,

washing the yard

Dairies are using this knowledge to establish ambitious sec-

tor-wide targets and engage in collective action with their

supply chain actor to reach those targets. Ensuring these

targets and the mitigation of other water related risks can

turn out to be very beneficial in the future for a sector

which continues to grow.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN DAIRIES?

Dairies are using the EWS standard via pre-screening or

certification to:

Understand and appreciate the amount of water used

Identify where and how water can be saved and how

to improve efficiency

Prepare for potential changes in licensing or regulation

Build trust with authorities and local suppliers

Communicate water management performance

EWS guides dairies to ‘assess, act and improve’ and im-

plement the best water management practices that im-

prove water management without creating unnecessary

duplication with other existing environmental schemes.

Furthermore, EWS helps dairies identify stakeholders for

collective water management. Given the various uses of

water within the sector, this is an integral aspect of a sus-

tainability program for dairies.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EWS FOR

THE DAIRY SECTOR?

For more information on opportunities for EWS implemen-

tation in dairies please contact please contact us

at: contact@ews.info.

MORE INFORMATION ON EWS &

DAIRIES

· European Water Stewardship · www.ews.info · contact@ews.info

WATER STEWARDSHIP IN DAIRIES

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SUPPLY CHAIN: ANIMAL FEED

Water consumed in the process of growing feed is a

major contribution to the water footprint of all animal

products. Likewise, the type of farming system affects

the quantity of feed needed as some approximations

quantify that grazing as opposed to concentrated

systems use three to four times more feed per unit of

product.

In order to reduce this overall impact on water

resources, dairy farmers should review the composition,

water requirements and origin of feed considering the

type of farming system in place.

WATER HOT TOPICS FOR DAIRIES

Irrigation

Dairy farms need information not only about water sources but also soil content to understand irrigation needs.

Water quality

Dairy farming and production in the EU is concentrated in specific geographical areas, which can lead to cumu-lative water quality and potentially water quantity impacts in a river basin.

For proper nitrogen management farmers must consider best management practices for runoff and leakage and possibly reduced grazing in sensitive areas.

Supply Chain

Wide range of indirect and direct water uses, from feed production to processing needs (chilling, pasteuriza-tion, and homogenization), requires careful evaluation of all water sources and effluents.

Need for transparency on environmental performance sector-wide to meet consumer demands.

Waste Water

High quantities of wastewater for cleaning purposes with fat and protein by-products require specialized treatment.

High COD and BOD loads in dairy processing are associated with high operational costs.

SAVE WITH ON-SITE WATER TREATMENT

Dairies are more frequently investing in water treatment

measures on site which not only increase efficiency but

actually result in associated long-term cost savings.

Aerobic or anaerobic biological treatment followed by

decantering of wastewater allows water to be reused in

dairy production processes. Estimates show that

enterprises which have installed on-site wastewater

treatments can lower operational costs by two thirds the

cost required of traditional treatment by municipal

wastewater treatment plants (Association of German

Dairying).