Young water professionals take a closer look at food manufacturing

A group of emerging water professionals from South East Water recently visited the Mondelēz food manufacturing plant in Scoresby to gain a better understanding of how water is used and repurposed in an industrial setting making confectionery.

The site visit to Mondelēz was organised as part of the broader efforts of South East Water’s Young Professionals Network (YPN), which is designed to provide learning and development opportunities for its workers just starting out in their careers. The first-hand look at the food facility allowed participants to gain a better understanding of a major industrial water user’s needs and how their role could contribute to improving these water services.

Katelyn Davis, a Water Recycling Operator at South East Water, was inspired to get involved with the YPN initiative after she was introduced to it by a colleague.

“For me, it’s a chance to connect with emerging professionals and broaden my understanding of South East Water. It gives me space to step outside my usual role as a treatment plant operator, build relationships across different teams and learn from the experiences of others — while also contributing to my own knowledge and perspective.”

Participants on the Mondelēz site visit were able to gain an understanding about how large food manufacturers use water across multiple stages of production. Key areas of focus included the importance of water for production, sanitation and trade waste.

Davis said the scale of production and the strong focus on water awareness throughout the entire facility was of most interest to her during the site visit.

“From the production lines and Clean In Place (CIP) systems to the employee hand-washing stations, it was interesting to see how every area has been carefully designed and continuously improved to manage water use efficiently and support sustainability across the plant,” she said.

South East Water proactively works with its large-volume business customers to support water monitoring and improve efficiency, while using smart technology to help customers detect leaks early, reduce waste and manage costs.

Davis said she was impressed with the team members at Mondelēz during her visit.

“There was a wide range of people with different career backgrounds, all working towards the shared goal of maximising production whilst maintaining water management. It was inspiring to see how enthusiastic they were to share the improvement and initiatives they have implemented, alongside the impressive production and CIP equipment; it was clear the employees at Mondelēz are genuinely passionate about their work and were eager to give us insight to their processes,” she said.

Another area of strong interest during the site visit was trade waste management. Attendees examined how wastewater generated during food production is handled, treated and discharged in compliance with environmental regulations.

A South East Water spokesperson said: “Trade waste is the industrial wastewater our business customers discharge into the sewer network. Managing it well is essential for protecting our assets and the safety of our people working on them, and for ensuring we maintain high‑quality recycled water. Strong trade waste controls also safeguard our water recycling treatment processes, reduces operational risk, and protects the environment.”

Nirav Joshi, a data scientist at South East Water, also participated in the Mondelēz site visit. Joshi said he was highly impressed with the workplace culture, the company’s strong emphasis on safety, and the water conservation efforts employed at the site.

“One initiative that stood out to me was an internal survey conducted to gather detailed operator feedback on opportunities to improve efficiency throughout the plant, encouraging both small and large enhancements,” Joshi said.

“In the end, over 40 recommendations were implemented, with the associated cost savings quantified and extrapolated. It was encouraging to hear about the value and care placed on our water by one of our largest commercial customers.”

By observing real-world applications, participants were able to connect concepts, such as water reuse, efficiency and waste minimisation, to tangible industrial practice.

“The Mondelēz team highly valued the engagement with South East Water during the site visit. The interaction was constructive and collaborative, reflecting a strong shared commitment to sustainability. We are confident this partnership will deliver positive outcomes for both the community and the environment,” said Vikas Gambhir, Scoresby HSE Lead, Mondelēz.

Initiatives such as the YPN play a vital role in preparing the next generation of water professionals who are better equipped to help tackle some of the industrial challenges ahead.

South East Water manages almost $5.2 billion in assets including water and sewerage networks. Its service area covers a land area in Victoria of 3640 km² from Port Melbourne to Portsea and approximately 30 km east of Pakenham.

Images: Supplied