July 31, 2023

Smithfield Foods' new wastewater system to improve water quality in Big Sioux River, US

Smithfield Foods has built a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system to replace a majority of an existing system at its pork-processing complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the United States.

The $45 million wastewater system added additional treatment processes and capabilities to meet more stringent permit limits on nitrates and ammonia. The upgraded system biologically converts ammonia-nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate-nitrogen and further removes nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater, a treatment process known as denitrification that is strongly preferred by the US Environmental Protection Agency due to its reduced impact on aquatic life.

The new denitrification process will reduce Smithfield's overall nitrogen load to the Big Sioux River by two-thirds or more. 

"This new state-of-the-art wastewater project reinforces Smithfield's proactive approach to implementing sustainable systems that improve environmental quality and benefit the community," said Stewart Leeth, chief sustainability officer for Smithfield. "The investment we have made in Sioux Falls will significantly reduce nutrient discharges and improve water quality in the Big Sioux River basin."

Smithfield had previously made significant improvements to its wastewater system at Sioux Falls over the past several years at a cost of US$10 million.

- Smithfield