California farmers are making drinking water from tomatoes
Raw tomatoes are normally processed into various products, including tomato paste, ketchup and sauce. In the process, tomatoes usually give out about 95% of water, which is then drained out as waste. Now Ingomar Packing, a tomato processing company, has turned to technology to harvest and purify water for drinking.
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The technology was first invented in Australia about a decade ago but has never been used in the U.S. If the idea is adopted, tomato processing will not only help save water, but will also enhance the economic value of tomato farming.
Related: New genetically modified purple tomato may stock shelves
“We harvest the water that naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables,” said Terry Paule, CEO of Botanical Water Technologies. “What we do is we cleverly catch that evaporative condensate, and then we run it through our purification process.”
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The company has set aside a water processing unit where Botanical Water’s Water Harvesting Units are contained to a cargo shipping container for transportation purposes. The containers are then connected to Ingomar’s pipes. The water is purified and kept in tanks ready for supply in case there is a need in the local area.
“What we’re hoping is to expand our footprint here with this technology and hopefully start a trend with facilities around the world where this potential is untapped right now,” said Greg Pruett, Ingomar Sales & Energy Manager.
Although the units are quite costly, the company is optimistic that the units will yield returns in the near future. The first tanks of water collected are being used by the Central California Irrigation District to recharge groundwater.
“Our goal ultimately is to positively impact 100 million of the world’s most vulnerable people by 2025,” said Paule.
Via CBS News