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Water Use and Reuse in Commercial Turkey Processing Facilities

USDA Agricultural Research Service, Russell Research Center, Athens, GA 30604

Correspondence: ¹ Corresponding author: julie.northcutt{at}ars.usda.gov

A survey of turkey processing facilities was conducted to determine the average volume of water used per bird during processing, the average amount of recycled processing water, and the types of poultry processing antimicrobial treatments. Ninety-three surveys were sent out to turkey processing facilities in the United States. Twenty-six surveys were completed and returned (28%). The combined processing capacity of the 26 facilities that responded to the survey was approximately 1.03 million birds per day or 71% of the total US turkey production (252 million annually). Most of the facilities that responded to the survey reported operating 5 d each week using city water (85%) and discharging wastewater through the city sewer system (77%). The average amount of water used during processing was reported to be approximately 30 gal per turkey—an increase of 23% with the implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program. Approximately 92% of the respondents reported using a cage or truck washing station. Thirty-one percent of the facilities reported that they recycle processing water. Data from the present survey may be of interest to turkey processing facilities that want to establish a water conservation program.

Key Words: turkey • processing • water • Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program