Veolia Water Technologies offers high-standard solutions for the production of water as an ingredient within food and beverage products.
It is water that is used as an ingredient and must be biologically perfect with very low turbidity. It must always be available with a consistent quality, independent of the raw water source, and there must be absolutely no risk of contamination. It must have a positive influence on the taste and also be free from color.
The main industries using ingredient water are:
- Food and beverage
- Packaged waters
- Soft drinks
- Infant nutrition
- Beers, wines and spirits
- Other food and beverage producers
The quality of ingredient water directly affects the taste, safety, and shelf life of the final product. For this reason, water treatment systems in the food and beverage industry play a vital role in ensuring:
- Consistent product quality
- Enhanced safety
- Improved operational efficiency
- Compliance with potable water standards
Choosing the right water treatment equipment contributes not only to better-tasting products but also to lower operational risks and increased productivity.
How Veolia is committed to helping its clients achieve high-quality, safe water
We understand the specific needs of the different markets and help you reach your goals by providing innovative water treatment solutions in-line with the highest quality standards and sustainability targets.
Our experience in these markets has led to the development of several product ranges to meet different clients’ needs. All of which are supported by our local in-house service teams.
We employ potable water certified instruments, equipment, materials and chemicals in order to be compliant with potable water directives.
Ingredient water in the food and beverage industry
Legal and client ‒ Specific requirements
Water used as an ingredient in the production of beverage products must fulfill potable water quality requirements of the highest standards such as those of The World Health Organization, European Directive 98/83/EC, EPA/FDA standards, etc. These requirements and guidelines regulate the water quality in terms of radioactivity, microbiology, inorganic substances and compounds, bacteriology, oxidants, chlorine, etc.
As well as fulfilling legal requirements for ingredient water quality, beverage manufacturers increasingly want to go further to ensure the quality, safety and longevity of their products.
Strict requirements ‒ Hygienic design
Top tier beverage manufacturers consider water a ‘food.’ These manufacturers therefore apply the practices detailed in the Food Machinery Directive (EU) — or its local equivalent — to their water treatment systems; notably designing and maintaining the systems in-line with the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) guidelines or its local equivalent.
As well as underpinning the safety of the final product, hygienic water treatment systems also contribute to environmental goals as they usually consume less water and chemicals as the frequency of CIP procedures is reduced. This also translates into increased uptime and productivity.
Compliance ‒ Potable water
The water treatment system must comply with potable water directives as the water produced by the system is intended for human consumption. As such, the water treatment equipment must employ potable water certified instruments, equipment, materials and chemicals in order to be compliant.
Supporting food and beverage producers with sustainable water hygiene management
Building on this foundation of compliance, Veolia offers advanced technologies that deliver superior ingredient water quality while promoting operational sustainability. Our hygienic treatment solutions help producers enhance product safety, minimise environmental risks, and reduce operating costs.
A leading multinational food and beverage company that produces a wide range of hot and cold drinks for consumption worldwide, opened a new Irish beverage concentrate manufacturing facility in 2021. The key requirement was a sustainable system that could meet food grade specifications.
Veolia Water Technologies carried out the design, installation and commissioning of their system which is capable of producing a large volume of reverse osmosis ingredient water with the capability to enable 24/7 production
Discover our technologies for ingredient water treatment
Hygienic water treatment systems ensure maximum product quality and safety in beverage production while reducing operating costs and risks.
Technologies - Ingredient water
Would you like more information about our technologies for ingredient water?
Ingredient water can even be produced from Nile river water. We have the know-how on how to design an efficient process according to the strict food and beverage specifications, with minimized cleaning times and without any risk of contamination.
Thomas Meyerhoff
Chief Technical Officer
Veolia Water Technologies Germany
Contact Thomas through his LinkedIn account
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FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Ingredient Water
What are the legal requirements for producing ingredient water in food and drink?
Water must comply with high-level potable water standards such as the WHO, European Directive 98/83/EC, and local standards (e.g., EPA in the USA). All instruments, equipment, and chemicals must be certified for use with potable water.
What are the potable water quality standards for drink products?
The water must be:
- Free from taste and odour
- Crystal clear
- Biologically perfect
- Consistently high in quality
- Free from contamination
It should also have:
- Low turbidity
- Alkalinity below 85 ppm (as CaCO₃)
- Low salt and organic content
- Controlled microbial presence
- Maximum availability
These targets are achieved through strict water hygiene management and adherence to hygienic design protocols.
What are the requirements for ingredient water in infant formula?
Infant formula production demands the strictest standards in water hygiene treatment and food safety. Manufacturers must ensure:
- Elimination of chlorates
- Avoidance of contaminants like phthalates
- Protection of nutritional integrity
- Compliance with and surpassing of potable water standards
Industry leaders often take proactive measures to mitigate risk, going beyond existing legal requirements.
Discover our solutions for ingredient water treatment
Veolia offers hygienic water treatment systems that support sustainable practices and safeguard product integrity. Our commitment to water hygiene treatment and regulatory compliance makes us a trusted partner for food and beverage producers worldwide.