Los Banos, CA (December 4, 2025) — At a processing plant in Los Banos, a novel “water-harvesting” system is turning tomato waste into drinkable water, producing roughly 120,000 gallons a day.
The system was installed at the Ingomar Packing Company facility, where large quantities of tomatoes are processed into products like paste and diced tomatoes. The technology behind the project comes from Botanical Water Technologies, an Australian firm that relocated to the United States about five years ago.
According to company officials, the decision to partner with Ingomar was driven by the plant’s existing commitment to sustainability which includes water reuse, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction initiatives.
The process works by extracting condensate (evaporation) from tomato pulp and treating it so it’s safe for consumption. The reclaimed water can then be repurposed for various needs, including bottled water production, aquifer replenishment, or distribution to underserved communities.
This innovation comes at a critical time for California’s water management. Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), many regions are facing tight restrictions on well pumping, pushing farmers, water agencies, and communities to seek alternative water sources.
As the San Joaquin Valley confronts abiding drought conditions and declining groundwater levels, projects like this one offer a promising way to stretch limited water resources, using waste from agriculture to produce fresh, usable water.
