The water issue is now at the center of environmental and economic sustainability assessments for various types of companies in the agri-food sector.
For the wine sector, in particular, water is, before being a cost, an irreplaceable raw material; nourishment for the vine and a balancing element in the vineyard as well as in the bottle.
Water consumption data in the wine sector requires careful evaluation regarding the quantities of water used in the various processing and production processes. Processes that result in a high volume of wastewater discharged.
In dimensional terms, the average water consumption is about 1.3 liters of water per kilogram of processed grapes. A value that, when related to wine, brings the amount of water needed to produce one liter of wine to a remarkable value of 1.8-2 liters.
A significant aspect, which sees a peak during the harvest phase and can vary depending on machinery and washing methods, but generally settles on a wastewater volume of no less than 0.7-1.2 times the volume of wine produced.
A truly considerable water expenditure, against which attention to wastewater discharge and the introduction of a suitable and efficient treatment system, beyond fulfilling a legal obligation, represent a clear stance on sustainability.
Thanks to the introduction of a natural and biological treatment system, it is possible to turn wastewater into a new resource, to be returned to the environment or used for irrigating green areas.
The treatment of wastewater, in full harmony with the principles of the circular economy, allows for the regeneration of a clean, odorless resource that is safe for health and the environment.
The reuse and reintegration of the water resource is now a concrete response to problems of water scarcity, difficult procurement of raw materials, drought, or poor forecasting regarding water costs.
Moreover, the wastewater treatment solutions currently available allow for the selection of systems with or without the use of electricity; capable of interfacing with remote control systems and interconnection (as required by Industry 4.0 standards) and for which it is possible to access contributions available at the European level, from MISE or individual Regions.
Making your company a sustainable reality, by adopting prudent management of water resources, means today both achieving an improvement in market positioning and an increase in asset value, as well as protecting oneself from price increases or future shortages of suitable water availability.
In summary, treatment constitutes a concrete intervention capable of harmonizing the consumption needs of winemaking with environmental balances, a benefit that protects, over time, the quality of a product that enhances nature itself.
This editorial has been shared with VIVA, the program for sustainable viticulture provided by the Ministry of Ecological Transition. For more information consult the VIVA website
