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Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)



Zero wastewater discharge solutions

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is a process of waste water treatment, which treats 100% wastewater, leaving zero discharge to the environment. ZLD is implemented and sometimes a legal requirement for countries such as India, US, China, Europe, and many more. ZLD is in major focus for manufacturing industries including power plants, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, leather, tanneries, distilleries etc.

In India, the Pollution Control Boards are made responsible for monitoring and implementing the ZLD across selected industries. Responsible businesses are adhering to this condition voluntarily. Third party verification of ZLD status is becoming popular with growing demands of Sustainability and Responsible business.

100% recovery of waste water

No pollution caused to the environment including water bodies

Reduces groundwater contamination and minimizes dependency on surface water

Reduces water withdrawal and aids in water positivity

Byproduct recovery including salts, metals for reuse and safe disposal

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What is Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), and how does it work?

Zero Liquid Discharge is the mechanism to treat and reuse 100% wastewater, thereby discharging zero liquid wastes to the environment.

ZLD is adopted by water and energy intensive industries through a combination of various techniques to separate pure water from dissolved or undissolved solid wastes. They are

  • Thermal process
  • Reverse osmosis,
  • Forward osmosis,
  • Electrodialysis

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is evaluated on the basis of –

  • Physical and chemical parameters of wastewater, removal of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), pH, temperature
  • Process Flow Diagram (PFD) to track the routes of wastewater outlet path
  • Complying with the norms as per Pollution Control Authorities. Technical processes adopted like RO, evaporators, etc.
  • Water balance and water audit to understand the water flow diagram and ensure that no discharge goes out
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Steps to comply with Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)

Organisations, willing to reach  ZLD status normally proceed through the following steps:

  • Check ZLD applicability for the concerned industry and regulatory guidance provided
  • Conduct a Feasibility study
  • ZLD proposal preparation
  • Obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) from SPCB (State Pollution Control Board), post technical scrutiny from Pollution Control Board (PCB) authorities
  • Obtain  Consent To Operate (CTO) from SPCB
  • Commission, measure and monitor ZLD system.
  • Third party verification on ZLD status

DQS India provides independent Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) compliance audit reports that support the issuance of CTO by the authorities. 

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Who need to comply Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) ?

Generally, all industries discharging wastewater, need to install Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) as per CPCB regulations which mainly include power plants, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, textiles, leather, tanneries, and distilleries. 

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Key Definitions:

  • ‘Wastewater treatment’ is a process of conversion of wastewater into reusable water, free of contaminants.
  • ‘Recovery Rate’ is the amount of water that is recovered so that it can be reused again for internal purposes. The higher the recovery rate, the better utilization and minimization of wastage of the treated water.
  • ‘Byproducts’ are the elements left after separation from the liquid waste such as metals, salts, sludge, which can be recycled or reused depending upon their reusability potential.
  • ‘Evaporator‘ is a process of evaporating the water from the wastewater, thereby leaving behind solid residues like salts and impurities.
  • ‘Reverse Osmosis‘ is a process of separating water from other substances through a semi-permeable membrane, leaving behind impurities, salts, and metals.
  • ‘Electrodialysis‘ is a mechanism to uses an electric field to separate ions from aqueous solutions, through semi permeable membranes.
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What is the process of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) third party audit?

  • Assessing the operations and various environmental obligations
  • Discussion on regulatory requirements and client-specific expectations.
  • Planning including timeline of certification, estimated budget and & timelines
  1. Documents review: Review of the relevant documents supporting the ZLD claim - including system design, process flow diagrams, data related to water usage, and water mass balance.
  2. Audit Preparation: Scheduling the on-site audit
  3. On-site Audit: Onsite inspection of the ZLD system, interviewing the concerned authorities, and reviewing operational processes.
  4. Performance verification: Verifying the actual data, including wastewater treatment efficiency, water balance, and operational data.
  5. Generate findings of the assessment: Sharing of assessment findings with organization to take Corrective actions
  6. Review Corrective actions: Checking and verification of the corrective actions and their effectiveness to confirm ZLD status
  7. Report: Preparing a comprehensive report by DQS including the entire audit findings, analysis and ZLD status.
  8. Issuance of LOC: Issuing Letter of Conformance on the Organization’s ZLD status
  • Complete review of the ZLD system before expiry of the certification.
  • Checking and assessing documentation, system performance, and on-site operations.
  • Validating the improvement of ZLD practices.
  • Addressing risks related to legal, operational, or environmental aspects.
  • Renew the LOC for the next cycle post successful assessment.
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What does the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) cost in India?

Individual quote

The cost of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) depends on a number of factors. We schedule each audit according to your company's needs. Schedule your personalised quote with DQS India, so you know what to expect. Contact us.

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How DQS India can help you?

DQS can help companies in getting ZLD approval through steps mentioned below

  • Third-Party Audits: Conducting audits to evaluate the effectiveness and compliance of ZLD systems.​
  • Inspection and Validation: Inspection of ZLD installations and validation of their performance against regulatory requirements.​
  • Certification: Issuing certifications highlighting organization's adherence to ZLD protocols and environmental regulations. 
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