These guidelines have been drawn up to assist all who design and operate dairies and other milk and milk product handling operations in the avoidance of water pollution and the minimisation of waste.

These guidelines focus on pollution risks which are specific to the dairy industry. They supplement the general guidance provided in the Agencies’ document ”Preventing pollution on industrial sites“ (PPG11 - Reference 1) and should, therefore, be read in conjunction with it.

It is not often recognised that milk can have a significant polluting effect on water if allowed to reach rivers or streams. It can be as much as 400 times more polluting than untreated domestic sewage. Naturally occurring bacteria break down milk entering a watercourse, using up oxygen in the water more quickly than it can be replaced. As a result of falling oxygen levels, fish and other creatures can suffocate. The high fat content of milk and its products can also cause physical problems within drainage systems. Solidified fat can cause blockages, resulting in overflows from the system and possible pollution of watercourses.

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