Industrial Wastewater Management in Indian Context – A Review

R Idhayachander, Research Scholar, National Institute of Technology, Trichy

Dr. Sivasankaran, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Technology, Trichy
D Sreenivasulu, Dy. Director, National Productivity Council, Chennai

In growing environmental problems, pollution came to be viewed as an inescapable consequence of all kinds of
industrial activities. Water become a scare resource and at present in many Industrial sector re-use and recycling of
water become mandatory and not voluntary. In other hands due to mis-management of wastewater the surface and
ground water quality is deteriorating day by day and we are now in the position to treat the surface, ground water for
drinking purpose and use water without treatment for domestic purpose. If the same situation continuous then we will
be forced to treat surface, ground water even for domestic use also and the situation is also not far away.

Indian Industries Large, Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) adopted different approach at different period to manage
their wastewater. The approach towards wastewater management has changed from dilution, treatment, segregation and
treatment, resource conservation at source and Zero Liquid Discharge but they are constantly facing challenges in
improving their wastewater management. The approach adopted at various periods can be grouped under passive,
proactive, constructive and reactive approach and it is depicted in the figure given below.

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e
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1900-1970: Ignore 1970-1980: Dilution 1980-1990: End-of- 1990-2005: Common Since 2005: Zero
pollution – Passive and Dispersion – Pipe treatment – Effluent Treatment Liquid Discharge –
approach Reactive approach Constructive (CETPs), Resource Reactive approach
approach conservation –
Proactive approach

In general large scale industries can able to manage their wastewater in a better way but SMEs faced various problems
in managing their wastewater due to various reasons like

 High investment and operating cost of End-of-Pipe (EOP) Pollution control systems often beyond the reach of
small industries
 Lack of knowledge and information on selecting the most cost-effective system -almost total reliance on advice
of EOP equipment suppliers
 Lack of technical capability for proper running and maintenance of EOP equipments.
 In many cases, lack of space to accommodate EOP system
 Lack of interest of consultants and equipment suppliers in SME's due to smaller business quantum per industry
 Lack of measurement and monitoring facilities to practically assess the pollution load and performance of EOP
systems.

Governments of India (GOI) is also continuously changing their strategy from directive-based regulation to incentive
based or mix of them towards Indian Industries to manage the wastewater and water pollution in a better way but
cooperation and support is very much needed from all stakeholders to make our blue planet green.