PepsiCo is installing a device in a South American plant which it claims could save the company around two-thirds of the water it uses.

The ‘integrated reuse solution’ from Siemens Industry Automation Division will be fitted in a snack food production plant in Santiago, Chile.

The initial water used in production is recycled, where any impurities are removed. This water is then put back into the production systems. Most of the wastewater first passes through a starch recovery system and is then screened before it moves on to primary treatment, which includes oil and grease removal.

It then flows to a ‘MemPulse membrane bioreactor’ (MBR) system from Siemens that will separate and treat liquids and solids.

PepsiCo have incorporated the process as part of a wider initiative to standardise water reuse at PepsiCo facilities throughout South America.