a focus of modern waste management practice is the minimisation of process inputs. Slaughterhouses generate large wastewater volumes and are frequently inefficient users of water. water consumption for slaughterhouse is reported by several authors (table 4). typical water consumption varies considerably. the typical minimum water usage figures worldwide appear to be 1,3-1,5 m/beast for beef slaughterhouse plants, assuming an average live weight of 0,5 tonne/beast in the US and Germany. Most recent australian slaughterhouse have been designed on the basis of 1.5 m/head water use, but actual industry use is considerably more. Figures for sheep are not quoted.