REDUCING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN WATER CONSERVATION
By Hailey NelsonCountry Malt Group, Great Western Malting, and Canada Malting Co. are proud to be a part of the United Malt global family of brands, and together we work to promote sustainability across the malt supply chain. Water is a critical resource in malting and how our sites manage water use impacts both the environment and public water systems. The steeping of barley, in particular, can be a water–intensive practice and the process water used during steeping is often treated before it is returned to the water table.
In 2020-2021, United Malt initiated a project to look at reducing water consumption during the steeping process using a water purification system called OPTISTEEP®. Extensive trials were carried out at Great Western Malting’s Malt Innovation Center (MIC) in Vancouver, WA, where several key advantages of the process were identified, including a significant reduction in water consumption and effluent production. In March 2022, an Optisteep® system was commissioned at Great Western Malting’s Pocatello plant in Idaho to further evaluate its operational effectiveness, reduced water usage, and effluent reduction potential.
Key benefits include approximately 30% water reduction. The use of Optisteep® does not impact the quality or malt specifications of our products. We’ve worked alongside our customers to trial the use of this new technology and ensure no changes were experienced on a commercial scale.
Optisteep® is the name of water reduction technology from Water IQ international.
United Malt continues to focus on reducing our environmental impact through investments in water conservation, process optimization, wastewater quality improvements, and beneficial re-use. We’re developing a roll-out program to install Optisteep® in targeted facilities across the United Malt network. In addition, we’re continuing to improve the consumption of water through implementation of good operating practices and benchmarking across our plants, reducing our usage, and responsibly treating effluent at our malting facilities.
Country Malt Group is pleased to be the exclusive supplier of Great Western Malting products where water conservation is a top priority.
