FOCUS : WATER AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

Project:  Case study on wastewater disposal practices and likely treatment options in textile processing unites in Tamil Nadu

Funded By: Arghyam Foundation 

Duration: 6 months

The case study explored the water consumption and disposal practices by textile units in Coimbatore district. The bleaching / dyeing units in Tirupur consume 90 million litres of water per day and generate about 87 million litres of effluent per day. This has adversely impacted agriculture and fisheries in the vicinity of the units. This case study capture the situation and discusses options for reducing the impact on the water bodies.

The study showed that the current practice of water usage, effluent treatment, discharge and sludge storage / disposal is not sustainable and would cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem while threatening the livelihoods of the farmers in the vicinity of the textile units. 

Reverse osmosis was the technology option recommended by the TNPCB for zero effluent discharge and recycling of water. The financial issues involved in its adoption need to be further understood. 

The problem of safe storage and disposal of sludge remains and has not ben addressed adequately. If effective management of sludge is not practiced then the investment in effluent treatment and ensuring adherence to TNPCB specifications would be nullified. 

There is need to introduce cleaner bleaching and dyeing technology to reduce the pollution load. 

There are serious climate change issues arising due to water pumping from deep bore wells, power consumption for water softening and diesel usage for transportation of water. These issues have not been the subjects of concern so far and there is need to carefully estimate the same.