CETP on trial run targets zero liquid discharge

TIRUPUR: A common effluent treatment plant (CETP) began trial run near here on Wednesday. The Arupuram CETP will reuse brine solution—a new method for achieving zero liquid discharge (ZLD).The treatment plants have been finding it difficult to achieve ZLD, even after the reverse osmosis process of dyeing effluents. This was because the mechanical evaporators and crystalisers in the existing CETPs were not running efficiently.The reuse of brine solution is expected to take care of this 20 per cent reject water. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has permitted the functioning of Arupuram CETP on trial basis for three months. “The salt solution can be reused for dyeing process after some chemical purification,” said Nagarajan, president of the Dyers Association of Tirupur. It will take two days for the dyeing units to start discharging effluents as the machines have been lying idle for the last six months.