Food Processing

Food & Beverage – Process Water and Wastewater Treatment

Hydroflux provides specialised process water and wastewater treatment solutions tailored to the the Food and Beverage Industry, ensuring compliance, sustainability, and operational efficiency. From process water treatment to advanced trade waste management, our solutions help food and beverage processors maintain high-quality water standards while meeting stringent hygiene and environmental regulations.

Hydroflux has extensive experience across a wide range of food and beverage processing industries. From hygienic process water treatment to advanced wastewater recycling systems, we design and construct customised treatment solutions tailored to your specific operational needs, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and sustainability.

Please click on the links if you are looking specifically for Hydroflux’s experience in the Meat and Poultry industry or Dairies.

View the photo gallery below for examples of plants Hydroflux has constructed for the a range of Food and Beverage Processors

Rely on Hydroflux for Unmatched Water and Wastewater Treatment Expertise

With decades of experience in wastewater treatment, Hydroflux designs and delivers customised systems incorporating Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF), anaerobic and aerobic biological processes, and sludge management. We specialise in removing fats, oils, grease (FOG) and suspended solids, organics, nutrients, and even dissolved salts from wastewater generated from Food and Beverage processors, ensuring wastewater is treated efficiently before discharge or reuse. Our solutions support food and beverage processors in optimising water use, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing overall operational performance.

For process water treatment, our expertise includes hygienic and non-hygienic Multimedia Filtration (MMF), Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), ion exchange, demineralisation systems, Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF), and Reverse Osmosis (RO). Whether treating bore water or ensuring water quality for processing, Hydroflux delivers tailored solutions to meet industry requirements.

Scroll down the page or click on the links to go directly to Process Water Solutions, our Design and Construct capabilities or our Support Services

Optimised Solutions for Performance, Cost, and Sustainability

Hydroflux evaluates each project individually, considering performance requirements, CAPEX, and OPEX to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective solution. We assess wastewater characteristics, discharge regulations, space constraints, and operational sustainability to optimise system design. By balancing initial investment with long-term costs, we deliver tailored solutions that maximise efficiency, compliance, and lifecycle value.

Trade Waste Discharge

For urban food processors discharging wastewater to the sewer as trade waste, Hydroflux typically provides an automated rotary screening system followed by a HyDAF unit to ensure compliance with discharge requirements.

The diagram illustrates a typical wastewater treatment process for urban sites discharging to a local sewage treatment plant. We primarily use process equipment, including the HyDAF Dissolved Air Flotation system from our proprietary range, and offer complete turnkey design and construction solutions.

Each wastewater treatment system is designed with a tailored chemical treatment program to achieve the required level of treatment, which may include pH control, coagulation, and flocculation, either individually or in combination. With increasing regulations and the rising cost of sludge disposal, Hydroflux will often also incorporate sludge dewatering into the overall process.

Environmental Discharge

For processing facilities in rural areas where wastewater is discharged to the environment via irrigation or to rivers and streams under EPA licenses, or in regions where council regulations are strict, a wastewater treatment plant incorporating a biological process is essential for the removal of organics and nutrients.

After pre-treatment, which may include screening and a non-chemical Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) system for solids and grease removal, wastewater is directed to an aerobic process such as a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR), or Activated Sludge system—all of which can be designed and constructed by Hydroflux. Where suitable, anaerobic ponds can be installed upstream of the aerobic system to reduce organic load while generating sustainable biogas. If required, additional tertiary treatment, such as filtration or disinfection, is incorporated to ensure compliance with environmental discharge standards.

Hydroflux’s Proprietary Wastewater Treatment Systems for Food and Beverage Processers

Dissolved Air flotation

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is the most commonly used wastewater treatment method for dairies, offering efficient removal of suspended solids, oils, and greases. Hydroflux provides a comprehensive range of HyDAF systems tailored to suit any food processing application. Every Hydroflux DAF system is precisely sized using a proven in-house engineering tool, ensuring optimal performance based on flow rates and solids loading.

Hydroflux’s comprehensive range of dissolved air flotation units ranges from 10 kL/hr to over 300 kL/hr as standalone units and can be configured with several options for automated settled sludge removal to further streamline operation and maintenance.

Biological processes

Hydroflux designs tailored biological treatment solutions based on factors such as available space, treatment objectives, and discharge requirements. Our portfolio includes:

• Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR)
• Membrane Bioreactors (MBR)
• Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR)
• Conventional activated sludge processes (tank or pond-based)

For high-strength wastewater with elevated COD levels, Hydroflux can design and construct High-rate anaerobic reactors or covered anaerobic ponds which provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution by offering energy recovery.

With expertise in all aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment processes, Hydroflux designs each system based on performance requirements, regulatory compliance, and available space, ensuring the most efficient and cost-effective solution.

Sludge Dewatering

Sludge dewatering is a critical aspect of a wastewater treatment plant to manage both primary sludge and secondary waste activated sludge (WAS). Hydroflux carefully evaluates sludge handling as a separate process to determine the most viable solution and will select the most suitable dewatering technology from its extensive product range which includes:

• Screw Presses – Preferred for their energy efficiency, minimal maintenance, and high dry solids output
• Centrifuges – Effective for high-volume sludge processing and 3 phase separation abilities
• Belt Presses – Suitable for high volume continuous sludge dewatering operations

Each dewatering solution is designed to optimise sludge management, reduce disposal costs, and enhance overall wastewater treatment efficiency.

Tailored Process Water Treatment Solutions for the Food and Beverage Industry

Hydroflux provides tailored process water treatment systems that meet the strict hygiene, quality, and regulatory standards required for food and beverage production. With extensive experience across various food and beverage sectors, Hydroflux ensures that processors have access to high-quality, reliable, and sustainable process water to support their operations.

Hydroflux provides a comprehensive range of hygienic and non-hygienic process water treatment solutions designed to meet the specific needs of food manufacturers, including:

• Multimedia Filtration (MMF) – Removes suspended solids and particulates.
• Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filtration – Eliminates organic compounds, chlorine, and taste/odour issues.
• Ion Exchange Systems – Softens water by removing hardness-causing minerals.
• Ultra Filtration (UF) – Utilises hollow fibre membranes to remove suspended and colloidal solids
• NX Nano Filtration (NF)  – Employs advanced crossflow NX membranes to eliminate suspended solids and targeted dissolved contaminants.
• Reverse Osmosis (RO) – A high-pressure filtration process that removes dissolved contaminants, including salts, organic compounds, and other dissolved impurities

Comprehensive Design and Construct Services

Hydroflux provides comprehensive design, construction, and support services for food and beverage processing facilities needing new, or upgraded process water and wastewater treatment plant, or simply require operational expertise.

Our turnkey solutions cover everything from custom system design and equipment selection to full-scale construction, installation, and commissioning. We offer ongoing support, including preventative maintenance programs, operator training, chemical optimisation, and 24/7 technical assistance. With remote monitoring through HyCONNECT™, we provide real-time diagnostics and troubleshooting, ensuring long-term performance, minimal downtime, and cost-effective operation for every plant.

End-to-End Wastewater Treatment Solutions with Expert Project Execution

With a team of qualified civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers, as well as experienced project managers, site supervisors, commissioning engineers, and service technicians, Hydroflux offers flexible contract options, ranging from equipment design and supply to full turnkey installations with  expert execution at every stage. All projects are conducted under externally approved occupational health and safety, and environmental management systems.

Our offices across Australia provide a strong local presence, ensuring seamless project management from design through to installation. Additionally, Hydroflux offers post-installation routine service contracts to maintain system performance and longevity.

Below is a 3D drawing of a treatment plant recently constructed for a food processing plant in SA comprising primary screening, paunch handling, steriliser water heat exchangers, HyDAF dissolved air flotation, sludge dewatering, a covered anaerobic lagoon, an aerated storm water collection lagoon and biogas handling.

Comprehensive Support for Food and Beverage Processing Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants

Hydroflux is a trusted partner for the food and beverage industry, providing end-to-end water and wastewater treatment solutions. Beyond system design and installation, Hydroflux offers chemical optimisation, preventative maintenance, biological plant modelling, and remote monitoring, ensuring long-term reliability and performance for every plant.

Chemical Optimisation

Hydroflux offers a comprehensive range of proprietary chemicals, including coagulants, antiscalants, acids/alkalis, oxidising/reducing agents, and proprietary cleaning and sanitising products. These chemicals are formulated to optimise process water feed conditioning before and after treatment, or enhancing the performance of your wastewater treatment plant. Our chemists work closely with the project delivery team to develop a site-specific chemical program that ensures maximum treatment efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Preventative Maintenance & Service

To guarantee consistent performance from day one, Hydroflux provides customised service and maintenance programs. Our engineers and technicians discuss preventative maintenance strategies during the construction phase, offering routine service, periodic overhauls, and full plant operation support. Our service team is available 24/7 to respond to unforeseen breakdowns, ensuring uninterrupted plant operation.

Remote Monitoring

All Hydroflux process water treatment plants come equipped with our proprietary HyCONNECT™ remote monitoring system, providing instant online technical support and troubleshooting. For remote locations with limited connectivity, we offer specialty monitoring solutions to ensure continuous system oversight. No matter where your facility is located, Hydroflux specialists are just a call away, ready to assist with real-time diagnostics and performance optimisation.

Sustainable Solutions

As Australia’s first certified carbon-neutral water and wastewater chemical supply and service business, we focus on sustainability. Developing and delivering sustainable solutions for treatment plant operation and maintenance is at the core of what we do. Our equipment is the most sustainable in the ANZ-Pacific market and is also carbon-neutral. Click here to find out what this means for you.