Tirupur ZLD Effluent Management Project
Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company (TWIC), a joint venture between the Government of Tamil Nadu and IL&FS, developed and established 9 textile-dyeing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in the Tirupur textile industries cluster. Based on Zero Liquid Discharge, with a combined capacity of 53 MLD, these plants mitigate pollution of Noyyal River, a major source of water for the local villages and agriculturists.
Innovations and Impact
- The CETPs reuse 95-98% of the water and 70-80% of the salt from the wastewater, for reuse in the dyeing process, ensuring commercial viability. The direct re-use of treated brine in the dyeing process reduces the need for the thermal evaporator system. The application for patenting the Treated Brine Reuse Technology is underway.
- The project has encouraged industry to monitor water usage and promote recycling. As water demand by industry is reduced, more water is made available for agriculture and domestic demands.
- The project ensures sustainable growth while meeting the most stringent regulatory norms. It has been named ‘Industrial Water Project of the year 2014’ by GWI UK, and ‘2014 WateReuse Industrial Project of the Year’ by Water Reuse Association USA, and has also received the ‘2030 WRG Corporate Water Stewardship Award’ from GWI Athens.
Timeline
October 2004
Industries receive High Court order to stop effluent discharge
October 2008
Pre treatment and RO plants commissioned
August 2010
Farmers petition as industries continue to pollute
January 2011
Court orders closure of dyeing and bleaching units
June 2011
TWIC presents revised technology to GoTN
August 2011
Revised technology successfully demonstrated in one CETP
March 2012
Other plants in Tirupur resume operations with new technology
Location
Links
Video: Tirupur Zero Liquid Discharge Project
Tamilnadu Water Investment Company (TWIC)
Joint Venture company promoted by Govt of Tamil Nadu and IL&FS, which implemented the project
