Effluent treatment and water balancing at an industry with a zero-discharge system
Student name: Ms Kavisha Boochra
Guide: Dr Najmur Rahman
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: Reliance Chemotex Industries Limited, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr S. C. Purohit
Abstract: The Indian textile industry is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Majority of the
effluent-generation that occurs during the production of textiles is in the dyeing process. Textile
dyeing is an energy- and water-intensive process and is also a major cause for chemical pollution.
The effluents generated during textile dyeing, if not properly treated before disposal, can be
detrimental to the physical, chemical and biological properties of the aquatic environment and can
seriously endanger the surface groundwater, human health and other biodiversity. This study was
conducted at Reliance Chemotex Industries Limited, a publically listed, synthetic yarn spinning mill
specialising in the production of fibre-dyed yarn. The study aims to understand the several
physiochemical and biological processes that are involved in an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and
further confirm whether the water quality after treatment through the ETP at RCIL conforms to the
standards set by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB). The wastewater at RCIL was
analysed at various stages of the effluent treatment process for major water quality parameters (such
as pH, TDS, TSS, BOD and COD) over a one-month period and the performance efficiency of the ETP in
removing these impurities was also evaluated. Finally, RCIL’s water balance was studied to
appreciate the supply and demand of water in a textile industry and to understand how RCIL recycles
wastewater through its Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant, thereby ensuring zero discharge into the
environment. Further, ways to improve the RO plant’s capacity to increase the reusability of effluent
water and methods for the safe disposal of RO reject water were also explored. Overall, RCIL’s
Effluent Treatment process was found to be functioning satisfactorily. A recommendation to add an
additional stage of filtration at the RO plant was made that would increase its capacity from 70% to
90%, thereby reducing RCIL’s ground water requirement. Lastly, it was recommended that RCIL
should utilise some of its RO reject water for roof-cooling rather than horticultural activities in order
to preserve the surface soil in the area.
