Industrial Use of Treated Municipal Wastewater

[Ashish Bhardwaj]

Dear Members,

We all know that India is likely to become a water scare country in near future and there will be rise in conflict between the three segments of the society (i.e. Agriculture, Industry and Urban) on the usage of freshwater.

Industries have become conscious of the limited availability of freshwater and are taking measures to reduce their water footprint by employing various measures like reducing freshwater consumption, rainwater harvesting and searching an alternate source of water such as desilantion, waste water recycling, water reclamation etc.

Recently industrial use of treated Municipal waste water has gained momentum. I am aware that Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) are selling a certain quality of treated municipal waste water to industries.

I would like to know who are industries which are using treated municipal waste water as their process water after necessary treatment. I am aware of the some like ITC Limited, Madras Fertilizers Limited, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd. but there are other industries also.

I would request if anyone could give me the information, I would be grateful.

Thank you,

Warm Regards,

Ashish Bhardwaj

[e-mail]

[shashank ARORA]

Dear Ashish

Today the huge quantity of water is required for infrastructure development and construction projects and reuse of treated wastewater in construction activity will address the problem of disposal of waste water and will also reduce the fresh water load of industries. U may check the details from authorities regarding the same.

 

Regards

Shashank Arora

[vikrant kumar]

I agree with u

[srinivas shankar]

chennai petrochemicals limited uses secondary treatedwater from chennai metrowater treatment plant

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

You need to analyze the water before deciding.

[srinivas shankar]

there will be big variation in the raw sewage analysis.

but secondry treated will fall in a range.

there AFTER TREATMENT SCHEMES IN THE REFINERY IS WORKING TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

SRINIVAS SHANKAR

[S.H.Krishna]

Dear Ashish,
The treated municipal waste water can be re-used for in various following processes:
Flushing of toilets in industry and township: Dual line plumbing is required.
Horticulture purpose: Not possible during monsoon.
Ash slurry make up: Salts concentration may be increased if not treated properly.
Dust suppression system: TSS to be monitored as it may choke the nozzles of sprinklers.
Process water: RO treatment required.

Warm Regards
S.H.Krishna
NTPC Ltd.
9437028067
[e-mail]

[Ashish Bhardwaj]

Dear All,

Thank you for replies. I am particularly looking for industries which are using treated municipal waste water inside their premises.

Just to add, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board is doing an exceptional work on this, they are treating water up to tertiary treatment in 4 of their treatment plants:

1) V. Valley – 60 MLD capacity
2) Yelahanka – 10 MLD Capacity
3) Cubbon Park – 1.50 MLD Capacity
4) Lal Bagh – 1.50 MLD Capacity

Through these plants, they are selling treated waste water to industries at a cost of Rs. 15 - Rs 25 per litre against Rs. 10-12 per litre treatment cost. They are only only conserving water but also getting revenues. This is a very good initiative. Other states should also follow the same.

 

Regards,

Ashish

[Vivek Mariappan]

in chennai, GMR basin bridge power plant uses municipal wastewater. i am not sure if it is treated wastewater or they treat it themselves.. but a very good effort. governments should make it more inviting for industries to use treated/untreated wastewater for their use. 

[Ashish Bhardwaj]

Dear Vivek,

Thank you for the information but the GMR Power plant (Chennai) is treating around 5 percent of Chennai's sewage in an in-house treatment plant to use the treated water in their operations. They are not purchasing treated water from CMWSSB. I am looking for the industries who are purchasing treated water from municipalities and using it as process water either as such or after further necessary treatment.

Thank you,

Regards,

Ashish

[Chitra Rajesh]

I think Ennore Power Plant in Chennai is using treated municipal waste water (as you mentioned, from CMWSSB), and it is for cooling purpose. I understand some other industry near Nagapattinam has approached one of the sewage treatment plants for their process. The STP there is under construction, the discussions are still underway. The industry wants to maintain the STP and use the treated effluent for their operations.

[Dr S B Katoley]

Perhaps, the first effort for reclamation of municipal waste water was for industrial use was tried by RCF Mumbai.The attempt was successful and it continues even today.However, this was possible due to proximity of the main trunk sewer in the vicinity of RCF Mumbai.There is no doubt that water intensive industries can reclaim the untreated sewage for the industrial purposes however, the availability of sewer network near the industries or industrial area  for the intake and construction of a full fledged STP by the industry is another necessity. The infrastructure to supply the raw sewage to the industry has to be establishes by the Municipal Corporation to tap the sewage by the industry. Unless this is in place, it may be difficult to think of using the sewage for the industries.The Pharma industry however may be an exception as they cannot use the sewage considering their production related quality requirements.    

[Indresh N]

Dear Ashish,

Good to see that you have collected data of BWSSB TTPs (tertiary treatment plants).

The water from V-Valley plants are sold industries of Bidadi industrial area. Many textile (garments) factories are using this tertiary treated water. 

KPCL has set up new power plant in Bidadi which is taking water from V-Valley plant.

Plants in lalbagh & cubbon parks was set up exclusively to meet the garden needs. these plants are delivering a very good quality output.

I'm not sure about yelahanka TTP (10 MLD capacity). But still they are supplying non-potable water for BIAL (2 MLD) and other industries around. Prestige (villas) at Devanahalli have planned to buy non-potable water from same.

The cost is as you have mentioned, but that is for Kilo Litres (KL) not litres. 

Now coming to the re-use.

The industry needs change on type of process involved. Though tertiary treated water has good re-use standards, industries further treat with RO or UF (ultrafiltartion) process to their necessary.

Re-use in domestic levels can be for gardening, flushing and small scale agriculture. Nowadays we are witnessing use of dual piping system for all big apartments and residential dwellings as the non-potable needs will be met by the tertiary treated water thus reducing investment for fresh water and solving sewage disposal problems.