Water reuse initiative enters next phase under US EPA Water Reuse Action Plan

A collaborative effort to advance water reuse within the food and beverage industry entered a new phase under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPAs) Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP).  As part of USEPA’s WRAP Action 2.0, GHD is working with stakeholders to develop a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)-based framework for ingredient and product-contact water reuse applications. This approach addresses a very promising yet underutilized water reuse application offering significant benefits to the food and beverage industry. 

We support discussions with the USEPA and industry partners to address a significant barrier to broader water reuse adoption in food and beverage manufacturing. As pressure on freshwater resources grows, many of the highest-value reuse opportunities involve water which comes into direct contact with products and production processes. The initiative aims to provide a clear pathway for organizations to evaluate these opportunities, including regulatory approval with greater confidence. 

The work builds on  WRAP Action 5.7, which identified water reuse opportunities in the beverage industry, and is advanced through WRAP Action 5.12. Through the initiative, stakeholders are collaborating on HACCP-based decision-making frameworks to support consistent and informed evaluations of reuse options across the industry. 

The project brings together representatives from the USEPA, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER), utilities and leading manufacturers. Participants are working to address technical, regulatory and stakeholder concerns which influence water reuse adoption across the sector. 

Water reuse continues to gain attention as food and beverage manufacturers seek ways to strengthen water resilience and reduce reliance on water resources. The Action 5.12 initiative intends to support informed decision-making by providing practical, risk-based guidance for evaluating ingredient and product-contact water reuse opportunities. With a common framework and shared resources, participants provide food and beverage manufacturers with greater clarity as they explore opportunities to expand water reuse within their operations. 

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 165 offices located on five continents.