Does ethanol production really guzzle water? The truth might surprise you.

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Let's try and distinguish the water consumption for producing ethanol at the industry level and in the agriculture at the agricultural level.

[00:00:08]>> Yeah.

[00:00:08]>> Now, at the industry level, >> Mhm.

[00:00:11]>> we are allowed by the government by in the environment clearance certificates that we get >> Yeah.

[00:00:16]>> to use about 4 4 and 1/2 lakh liter >> Mhm.

[00:00:21]>> of fresh ground water daily to produce about 1 lakh liter of ethanol.

[00:00:27]>> Okay.

[00:00:27]>> So, it's a regulation and that is what we have to follow and that is what we do.

[00:00:32]>> Mhm.

[00:00:33]>> So, we use about 4 liter >> Mhm.

[00:00:36]>> per liter of ethanol.

[00:00:38]>> Just 4 liters?

[00:00:39]>> Just 4 liters to produce 1 liter of ethanol. But our fresh water consumption is about 4 4 and 1/2 lakh liters to produce 1 lakh liter of ethanol.

[00:00:49]>> Mhm.

[00:00:50]>> Now, why is that?

[00:00:52]Generally, to produce 1 lakh liter of ethanol daily, about 11 lakh liters of water is required.

[00:00:59]>> Mhm.

[00:01:00]>> But about 7 lakh liter >> Mhm.

[00:01:03]>> is the water from yesterday >> Mhm.

[00:01:05]>> or 2 days back >> Mhm.

[00:01:07]>> which we process or recycle >> Mhm.

[00:01:10]>> in our condensate polishing unit >> Okay.

[00:01:13]>> or through various method within the system >> Mhm.

[00:01:17]>> to be able to >> Mhm.

[00:01:18]>> reuse it.

[00:01:19]>> Mhm.

[00:01:19]>> So, out of 11 lakh liter about 7 lakh liter is recycled water.

[00:01:24]>> Mhm.

[00:01:25]Okay.

[00:01:25]>> And 4 lakh liter is the fresh ground water that we draw. So, 4 liter per >> Mhm.

[00:01:30]>> liter of ethanol is at the industry level.

[00:01:33]>> Uh-huh.