Behavioral Changes Save Food Processor Water and Money
Gangi Brothers Packing Company is a tomato processing and canning plant in Santa Clara, California. Gangi Brothers has implemented several successful water conservation practices at its cannery, including the monitoring of operations to control water use and to identify areas where water could be saved. Monitoring of water use at the facility has been used to establish reasonable water use practices, to notify employees of the proper practices, and to monitor and enforce proper water use practices (Brown and Caldwell, 1990).
Over a 5-year period the combined conservation practices at the packing company have resulted in a significant reduction in water use. In 1983 Gangi Brothers used approximately 148 billion gallons of water during the canning season. By 1989 water use at the facility had dropped to 56.8 billion gallons, resulting in a savings of 91.4 billion gallons per season (Brown and Caldwell, 1990).
Combined estimated capital and operating costs for water conservation at Gangi Brothers are approximately $89,500 per year. The estimated savings from lower sewer and water costs is $130,000 per year, so the net savings resulting from the implementation of water conservation practices at the cannery is approximately $40,500 per year (1990 dollars) (Brown and Caldwell, 1990).
Environmental Protection Agency's Office of WaterFrom URL: http://www.epa.gov/ow/you/behave.html
Revised April 5, 1999
