Nestlé pizza factory uses GE’s water treatment technology

Nestlé USA’s pizza division has implemented GE’s advanced water treatment chemical technology at its factory in Little Chute, Wisconsin, US, to reduce water usage and cost and to improve water efficiency.

Under the contract, GE provided its GenGard water-treatment chemistry with stress tolerant polymer and TrueSense controls for the plant’s four main ammonia condensers to provide accurate control of cooling water and enable more cycles with high concentrations of water treatment chemicals for optimum results.

The company has reduced water usage by 7.4 million gallons per year due to the improved efficiency of the plant’s cooling towers, decreased the sewer discharges by the same amount and has saved about $50,000 by avoiding water purchase.

Nestlé Little Chute pizza division utilities supervisor Louis Miller said the company is always looking for ways to improve water efficiency across its operations and reduce water withdrawals.

"Improving the efficiency of the cooling towers is a big step towards achieving that goal," Miller added.

GE Power & Water water and process technologies, chemical and monitoring solutions general manager Kevin Cassidy said Nestlé USA’s commitment to reduce water usage has also benefited GE.

"They’ve proven that being environmentally conscious can improve operating efficiency, conserve scarce natural resources and lead to improved capacity and healthier profit margins. Nestlé’s leadership has set an example for others to aspire to and follow," Cassidy added.

The company was unable to meet the high cooling water standards set for the industries due to the hardness and high alkalinity in the Little Chute’s city water.

The high alkaline water could not be effectively treated using the regular chemical treatments and resulted in scales in the cooling towers which decreased the cooling effect and called for added maintenance.

The older control system was hindering the cooling operation, and could not be integrated with plant data systems.

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Image: GE water treatment technology has helped Nestlé USA’s pizza division reduce water usage and save costs. Photo: GE