Winery Wastewater Treatment
Sector Overview
Contents
- The nature and sources of your wastewater
- Why treating it is essential
- Available treatment technologies
- How to purchase and install a treatment system
Sources & Characteristics of Winery Wastewater
The majority of wastewater in winemaking comes from cleaning processes. Water used throughout the production cycle collects different contaminants, depending on the stage.
Wastewater is mostly produced by:
Washing and rinsing of production equipment
Cleaning tanks, barrels, and bottling lines
| Production step | Production component |
|---|---|
| Grape harvest | Harvesters and transport devices |
| Vinification | Grape Mill, Destemmer, Mash container, Winepress, Pumps |
| Must clarification | Separator, Filter, Must container, Cellar dishes, Pipes, Hoses, Pumps |
| 1st + 2nd tapping | Separator, Filter, Tank, Barrel, Cellar dishes, Pipes, Hoses, Pumps |
| Bottle cleaning | Bottle washer |
| Bottle sterilisation + bottle filling | Bottle sterilisation, Filler, Filter, Container, Pipes, Hoses, Pumps |
On average, wine production generates around 200 liters of wastewater per hectare per day, over roughly:
100 days for bottled wine
50 days for bulk wine
Outside the production season, water usage is typically reduced by half—meaning that wastewater volume can vary significantly over the year.
During harvest and production, wastewater tends to contain:
Yeast and sugar
Organic solids like peel and lees
Cleaning agents and disinfectants (halogenated or oxidizing)
Inorganic materials from bottle and barrel cleaning
| Dissolved | Solved | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic | Leaves, Seeds, Yeasts, Bacteria, Label residues, Cork residues, Stem parts, Berry skin | Complexing agent, Alcohol, Sugars, Acids, Protein, Detergent surfactants, Label glue, Disinfectants |
| Inorganic | Soil | Acids and alkalis, SO2, Salts, Disinfectants, Complexing agents |
A unique feature of winery wastewater is its low COD:BOD₅ ratio, typically between 1.3 and 2.0. This makes it especially suitable for biological treatment.
| Parameter | Concentration in mg/l | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Max | Min | Average | |
| COD | 296 119 | 320 | 15 553 |
| BOD5 | 130 000 | 125 | 8 858 |
| TOC | 2 500 | 400 | 1 349 |
| ph value | 12 | 3 | 5 |
| TSS | 79 635 | 1602 | 11 168 |
Winery Wastewater Treatment & Disposal Options
Several treatment and disposal strategies exist, each with its own benefits and requirements:
1. Collection & Transport
Wastewater is stored and transported off-site
Requires large storage tanks and seasonal adaptation
Expensive and inefficient for most wineries
2. Discharge to Sewer System
Wastewater is sent to a municipal treatment plant
Requires a permit from your local water authority
Pollution loads are measured for fee calculation
Pre-treatment helps reduce discharge costs
Step 1: Screening (removes solids like stems and peels)
Step 2: DAF or SBR process (reduces COD/BOD₅ levels)
3. Direct Discharge into Surface or Groundwater
Treated wastewater is released into rivers, streams, or used for vineyard irrigation
Requires strict compliance with local discharge limits
Biological treatment is essential for safe discharge
4. On-site Reuse
Treated wastewater is reused for cleaning and process water
Legal restrictions may limit reuse areas
Advanced treatments like ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis are often required
| Wastewater source | Options | Process technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Winery | Storage and removal | No treatment |
| Discharge into the sewerage system | Mechanical screening | |
| Dissolved air flotation or SBR process | ||
| Discharge into a receiving water body | Mechanical screening | |
| Dissolved air flotation or SBR process | ||
| FBBR process | ||
| Reuse | Mechanical screening | |
| Dissolved air flotation or SBR process | ||
| FBBR process | ||
| Ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis |
Selecting the right treatment process is crucial. We can help you find the best system for your needs. Contact us for a personal consultation.
Planning Your Winery Wastewater Treatment Plant
Now that you understand your wastewater, it’s time to plan your own treatment system.
At PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH, we specialize in customized winery wastewater solutions. With extensive experience working with wineries around the world, we offer:
Turnkey solutions for every application
Automated systems with remote monitoring
Long operating life and low running costs
Compact, modular systems
Expert consultation and on-site support
Fast, tailored quotes
In-house lab analysis of your wastewater
All our systems are tested and certified by PIA GmbH and TÜV, ensuring exceptional cleaning performance and high-quality materials.
Modular, Flexible Design
Most of our systems are installed in ISO sea containers, making them:
Easy to relocate
Suitable for outdoor installation
Scalable and modular
Simple to operate, with user-friendly control panels
We understand that every winery is unique—which is why our solutions are always tailored to your exact situation and goals.
Purchasing or Leasing a treatment plant for Wine Processing
Expert Solutions for Wine Wastewater Treatment
With years of hands-on experience and a proven track record, we have partnered with wineries around the world to deliver effective, tailor-made wastewater treatment systems. Thanks to our expertise and consistent performance, we are proud to be the European market leader in food and beverage wastewater treatment.
Why Choose ClearFox?
Our solutions are built around the needs of modern wineries and focus on:
✅ High customer satisfaction
✅ Low CAPEX and OPEX
✅ Compact system footprint
✅ Remote monitoring and external access
✅ Treatment performance tailored to required effluent values
✅ Reliable, long-lasting operation
✅ Minimal maintenance requirements
✅ Fast and simple installation
✅ Dedicated personal support
✅ Strict adherence to budget
Every treatment solution we design combines high quality with sustainable, resource-efficient processes. We collaborate closely with PIA GmbH, a globally recognized independent testing institute for wastewater technology. Their certifications consistently confirm the exceptional performance of our systems.
Modular, Scalable, and Future-Proof
All of our wastewater treatment systems are modular and scalable, allowing easy expansion or adaptation to meet changing wastewater volumes or compositions. Whether for new installations, upgrades, or temporary solutions, we’ve got you covered—with rental systems also available for short-term needs.
Our containerised solutions are designed for flexibility and mobility. They can be installed either within your production hall or elsewhere on the winery premises, requiring minimal space. And if your production volume increases, your treatment system can scale accordingly—no investment ever goes to waste.
Built for Wineries by Industry Experts
As specialists in the food and beverage sector, we’ve developed systems that are:
Robust and built for continuous operation
Easy to use, thanks to a simple and intuitive interface
Low maintenance, saving time and labour
Designed for integration into existing processes
Whether you’re planning a new system or upgrading an existing one, our team is here to help—from concept to commissioning and beyond.
Get Started with Confidence
The following guide will walk you through the key steps in planning and purchasing a wastewater treatment plant. If you have any questions or would like a free, no-obligation consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always happy to help.
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