Talbot and Sovereign set new global benchmark in industrial water recovery
TALBOT, in partnership with Sovereign Foods, one of South Africa’s largest poultry producers, commissioned a water recovery and treatment facility in 2024 that delivers recovery levels exceeding international benchmarks for the food processing industry.
The plant, based in Kariega, Eastern Cape, is designed to recover 1.3 million litres per day (MLD) of potable water from 1.75 MLD of wastewater generated by factory operations. By combining its own IP and operational expertise with input from global leaders in water recovery, Talbot was able to push the boundaries of industrial water recovery.
Grahame Thompson, Director at Talbot, noted, “The plant was designed to recover 72.5% of the wastewater generated by Sovereign’s processing activities. So far in 2025, we’ve recovered around 270 million litres of potable water, exceeding design expectations.”
International partners have praised the project’s quality. Sander Heijs of Cyprio BV remarked that this level of water reuse is rare, even in European poultry facilities, adding that it is truly a state-of-the-art facility.
This project responds directly to ongoing water challenges in South Africa, particularly in drought-prone regions like Kariega. It also eases pressure on municipal systems by reducing reliance on municipal water supply. The recovered water meets SANS 241 standards as well as removing key contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and other non-listed pollutants. This supports compliance, operational continuity, and well-being of the consumers.
Technologies used include dissolved air flotation (DAF), membrane bioreactor (MBR), reverse osmosis (RO) and advanced oxidation (AOP). The facility was financed, designed, built and is currently fully managed by Talbot, with real-time performance tracked through its proprietary SaaS platform – TalbotAnalytics.
Blaine Nell, Group Commercial Manager at Sovereign, shared: “We now stand as one of the largest contributors to water sustainability in the Eastern Cape. Choosing Talbot as our partner on the journey was the right decision.”
This project achieves significant environmental impact while also delivering clear financial value. Talbot is one of the few companies that consistently translates water savings into financial metrics. By aligning environmental benefits with financial performance, Talbot gives decision-makers clear insight into the return on investment, setting a new standard for sustainability projects.
As water scarcity worsens across the country and globally, industries need to assess their water use, recovery potential, and long-term risk. Projects like this prove that water reuse is not only technically and financially feasible, but increasingly necessary.
With over 35 years’ experience in industrial water solutions, Talbot can help businesses activate the transition to sustainable water to secure their water future.
