February 2026
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Context and progress
2. Methodology
2.1 Development of the Data Collection Tool
2.2 Data Collection and Validation
2.3 Scope of the Data Collection
2.4 Participation
2.5 Data Quality and Anonymisation
3. Water Use Intensity
3.1 Drenching
3.2 Dedicated Pre-sort Water Use Intensity
3.3 Dedicated Packing Line Water Use Intensity
3.4 Cold Storage
4 Water Usage Profiles
4.1 Results
4.2 Observations
5 Water Sources
5.1 Results
5.2 Observations
6 Year-on-Year Comparison of Water Use Intensities
6.1 Packing Line Results
6.3 Ablutions, Canteen & Offices Year-on-Year Comparison
6.4 Total Water Use Intensity Year-on-Year Comparison
7 Water Management Practices
7.1 Flume Technology Age
7.2 Flume Water Management
7.3 Water Saving and Water Treatment Methods
7.4 Rainwater Harvesting
7.5 Filtration Technologies in Drenching
7.6 Filtration Technologies in Pre-sort/Pack Line
7.7 Recycling Technologies in Cold Storage
7.8 Recycling Technologies in Ablutions, Canteens and Offices
7.9 Wastewater Treatment Methods
8. Conclusion
9. Recommendations
List of Figures
Figure 1: Drenching operations water use intensity results
Figure 2: Pre-sort operations water use intensity results
Figure 3: Packing line operations water use intensity results
Figure 4: Cold storage operations water use intensity results
Figure 5: Ablutions, canteen & offices operations water use intensity results
Figure 6: Total water use intensity results
Figure 7: Water use profile results
Figure 8: Water source results
Figure 9: Water use distribution per source per packhouse
Figure 10: Year-on-year comparison of packing line intensities
Figure 11: Year-on-year comparison of cold storage intensities
Figure 12: Year-on-year comparison of Ablution, Canteen and Office intensities
Figure 13: Year-on-year comparison of total water use intensities
Figure 14: Flume technology age
Figure 15: pH management processes
Figure 16: Chlorine management processes
Figure 17: Flume draining cycle
Figure 18: Flume water fate
Figure 19: Use of harvested rainwater
Figure 20: Filtration technologies used in the drenching process
Figure 21: Filtration technologies used in pre-sort and packing lines of packhouses
Figure 22: Recycling technologies used in the cold storage of packhouses
Figure 23: Recycling technologies used in the ablutions, canteens and offices of packhouses
Figure 24: Wastewater treatment methods used by the packhouses
1. Introduction
In 2017, the Packhouse Action Group (PAG) tasked Blue North with assessing water risks in pome fruit packhouses and setting industry water benchmarks. Since then, Blue North completed six more benchmarking phases (2018–2023). The current report concludes Phase 8, covering 2024, with increased participation from 12 packhouses, up from nine in the previous phase.
1.1 Objectives
The core objectives of this phase remain consistent with a commitment to driving water efficiency in the industry:
- Replicate the water use benchmark study
- Integrate 2024 data
- Expand participation
- Conduct year-on-year water use intensity comparisons,
- Collect data on recycling technologies and management practices
1.2 Context and progress
Since the project’s inception, the focus has shifted from initial risk assessment to the establishment of a robust database of water use across the industry.
2. Methodology
The methodology for Phase 8 remained consistent with previous phases to ensure data comparability, while focusing on expanding the participant base and refining data validation processes.
2.1 Development of the Data Collection Tool
Participant data on water consumption was collected using an Excel collection tool. The Phase 8 tool incorporated several refinements to support the evolving needs of the project:
- Historical Data Integration
- Flume Age vs. Efficiency Analysis
- Water Recycling Quantification
2.2 Data Collection and Validation
To ensure high data quality, the following steps were taken:
- Participant Engagement
- Sense Checking
- Data Validation
2.3 Scope of the Data Collection
To provide a granular view of water usage, consumption was isolated into the following operational areas:
-
- Drenching
- Dedicated Pre-sort
- Packing Lines
- Hybrid Lines
- Cold Storag
- Ablutions, Canteens & Offices
2.4 Participation
Phase 8 saw a marked increase in industry engagement since the previous phase. Thirty-six packhouses were invited, of which 12 packhouses completed this study and provided comprehensive data (up from nine in the 2023 report).
- Long-term Participants
- New Participants
- Barriers to Participation
2.5 Data Quality and Anonymisation
Data quality varies by site, with total water consumption usually metered, but some sub-processes like drenching or ablutions rely on estimates. Estimated data reveal trends but should be treated cautiously, as fluctuations may reflect assumptions rather than actual performance.
3. Water Use Intensity
This section presents the water use intensity results for each packhouse operation.
3.1 Drenching
Drenching involves the controlled application of fungicides or other post-harvest treatments to fruit bins to protect fruit quality and prevent disease during storage.
3.2 Dedicated Pre-sort Water Use Intensity
Dedicated pre-sorting involves the sorting of fruit by grade, size, and colour prior to storage or final packing. This process operates independently of the main packing lines and typically utilises water flumes for gentle transport and fruit handling.
3.3 Dedicated Packing Line Water Use Intensity
Dedicated packing lines are responsible for the final washing, sorting, and packaging of fruit into cartons or bags. Water usage in this area is primarily driven by flume systems used for the gentle transport of fruit, including spray washers and application systems.
3.4 Cold Storage
Cold storage operations involve the preservation of pome fruit in Regular Atmosphere (RA) or Controlled Atmosphere (CA) facilities to extend shelf life.
3.5 Ablutions, Canteens & Offices Water Use Intensity
This metric tracks the water consumed by the packhouse workforce and administrative staff for domestic purposes.
4 Water Usage Profiles
It is valuable to compare the water use profiles of different packhouses to identify which operations are most water intensive, commonly referred to as hotspots. This analysis allows management to prioritise water-saving interventions where they will have the most significant impact.
Figure 7: Water use profile results [% of total water use] for phase 8’s participants.
4.2 Observations
- Cold Storage Dominance
- Packing Line Impact
- High Staff Usage
- Data Gaps
5 Water Sources
Figure 8 summarises the water volumes (kL) obtained per source for the participating packhouses. Figure 9 shows the various water sources per packhouse. Only packhouses that could provide specific source data (whether estimated or metered) are displayed in these figures. Consequently, Packhouses F, P, and Q are excluded from the graphs below as they could not quantify their water abstraction volumes for this period.
Figure 8: Water source results [Water volume (kL) per source] for phase 8’s participants.
Figure 9: Water use distribution per source per packhouse [% of total water use per source] for phase 8’s participants.
5.2 Observations
- Primary Sources
- Borehole Reliance
- Municipal Usage
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Diversification
- Recycled Water
6 Year-on-Year Comparison of Water Use Intensities
To drive meaningful water reductions, it is essential to analyse performance trends over time. This section compares water use intensities from Phase 1 (2017) through Phase 8 (2024). In line with established reporting protocols, this analysis focuses on packhouses with more than two years of data to ensure the visualisation of reliable trends.
6.1 Packing Line Results
The packing line is a major water consumer in the packhouses, primarily due to flume water usage. Figure 10 below summarises the intensities (kL per tonne of fruit packed) for packhouses with more than two years of data.
Figure 10: Year-on-year comparison of packing line intensities [kilolitres per tonne packed] for phase 8’s participants.
6.2 Cold Storage Results
Cold storage operations are typically the most significant water use area in pome fruit packhouses, with cooling towers accounting for the majority of this consumption.
Figure 11: Year-on-year comparison of cold storage intensities [kilolitres per tonne packed] for phase 8’s participants.
6.3 Ablutions, Canteen & Offices Year-on-Year Comparison
The figure below depicts water consumption over time for staff requirements, including restrooms, kitchens, and administrative offices.
Figure 12: Year-on-year comparison of Ablution, Canteen and Office intensities [Kilolitres per person per day] for phase 8’s participants.
6.4 Total Water Use Intensity Year-on-Year Comparison
The overall water use intensity, measured in kilolitres per tonne of pome fruit packed, provides a comprehensive view of a facility’s water efficiency by consolidating all operational areas. Because these metric aggregates total cold storage water use without accounting for varying storage durations, it does not serve as a standard benchmark.
Figure 13: Year-on-year comparison of total water use intensities [kilolitres per tonne packed] for phase 8’s participants.
7 Water Management Practices
Participating packhouses documented their water management strategies using a combination of qualitative and quantitative inputs, utilising specific checkboxes and free-text responses within the data collection tool. These questions were designed to assess the current landscape of management protocols and water reuse technologies adopted across the industry. This section presents the summarised results of these findings for the 2024 reporting period.
7.1 Flume Technology Age
This section tracks the age of the flume technology currently in use at participating packhouses.
7.3 Water Saving and Water Treatment Methods
Fruit packing operations present numerous opportunities for both water conservation and reuse. This section summarises the specific methods employed by participating packhouses to manage water discharge and identifies the destination of flume water once it leaves the packing line.
7.4 Rainwater Harvesting
Capturing and utilising rainwater for non-potable uses can significantly reduce a facility’s reliance on finite freshwater sources, offering both environmental and economic
01234567 Disposed of through storm water system, into dam or river Goes through natural reed bed filtration Runs into earth dam Reused by agriculture, firefighting or other Sent to municipality Other Number of packhouses29 resilience. This section details how collected rainwater is currently being utilised by the participating packhouses.
7.5 Filtration Technologies in Drenching
Effective filtration in the drenching process extends the life of the drench mixture, reducing both water and chemical consumption. Figure 20 details the filtration technologies currently employed by the participating packhouses.
Figure 20: Filtration technologies used in the drenching process.
7.6 Filtration Technologies in Pre-sort/Pack Line
Implementing filtration technologies in pre-sort and packing lines is essential for maintaining water quality, reducing pathogen risks, and extending water replacement intervals. This section summarises the adoption of these technologies in the packing line among the participants.
Figure 21: Filtration technologies used in pre-sort and packing lines of packhouses.
7.7 Recycling Technologies in Cold Storage
Recycling water within staff facilities (ablutions, canteens, and offices) remains a less common practice compared to production areas, but it offers potential for reducing domestic water consumption. Figure 23 outlines the technologies currently in place.
Figure 23: Recycling technologies used in the ablutions, canteens and offices of packhouses.
7.9 Wastewater Treatment Methods
To prevent environmental contamination, packhouses must treat their wastewater using appropriate filtration or treatment methods before discharge. This section outlines the various wastewater treatment strategies currently employed by the participants.
Figure 24: Wastewater treatment methods used by the packhouses.