Waste Water Management in Production Facilities

Waste water management in food and beverage production facilities or commercial kitchens presents unique challenges for drainage systems. These environments often require systems capable of handling large volumes of water, cleaning chemicals, and sometimes sudden liquid releases from production equipment.

Drainage System Selection
In production facilities, routine washdowns can release substantial amounts of water and debris. The drainage system must be able to:

• Handle high flow rates during cleaning and sluicing
• Capture contaminants such as food particles, fats, and cleaning agents
• Prevent flooding and mitigate slip hazards

For areas prone to large liquid discharges, a channel with a 100 mm or 200 mm clear opening is recommended. These wider channels provide superior catchment during sudden releases. For steady but lower flow areas—such as chilled storage or food prep workstations—a slot drain with a 20 mm opening may be more suitable.

Channel Depth & Hydraulic Performance
Channel depth directly impacts drainage efficiency. Deeper channels increase catchment capacity and reduce flood risk. Outlets connected to sumps are often more effective hydraulically as they create a waterfall effect that improves flow rate and system performance.

When flow rate is critical, customised sump depths can be fabricated to meet hydraulic design specifications. This ensures surface water is removed quickly and safely from the facility.

Handling Large Debris & Food Particles
Facilities such as butcheries, fish markets, and food production plants often release large food particles during washdown. In these environments, drains with wide grate openings are preferred to allow debris to flow through easily.

Some facilities use trade waste separators to manage fats and solids downstream, which requires a drainage system that allows solids to pass through without frequent blockages. Allproof Industries provides:

• Custom strainer baskets with varying mesh sizes (e.g., 20 mm openings for meat processing applications)
• Removable handles and rods for easy maintenance and quick sump identification

These systems ensure uninterrupted operations while meeting trade waste compliance requirements.

Allproof MC Series Channels
Allproof’s MC Series stainless steel channels and grates are designed for:

• Load class performance (AS 3996) to withstand forklifts and heavy traffic
• Slip resistance (AS 4586) to improve workplace safety
• Modular installation, with 100 mm and 200 mm wide channels available in various depths

For unique production layouts, fully customised drainage solutions can also be fabricated. This ensures hydraulic efficiency, hygiene, and operational durability specific to each facility’s workflow.

An effective waste water drainage system improves food safety, hygiene, and operational efficiency. By choosing solutions such as Allproof’s MC Series and customised sumps with appropriate strainer baskets, production facilities can manage large washdowns, maintain compliance, and avoid downtime due to blocked or underperforming drainage systems.