Sustainability begins at home

By Staff Report September 5, 2024 12:22 pm IST

Alfa Laval recycled all its generated wastewater, collected rainwater and brought liquid discharges to zero at its Pune facility by installing a new wastewater treatment plant using their technology.

The plant, which can treat 90 m³ of wastewater per day, was installed and commissioned in 2023. It incorporates a membrane bioreactor (MBR) at the heart of the process and an ALDEC G3 decanter, which has replaced the traditional sludge drying beds used for dewatering.

“Sustainability is at the core of our business principles, and saving water is essential,” explains Subhasis Das, Managing Director of Alfa Laval India. “We believe that sustainability begins at home, and with this goal in mind and the aim of achieving zero liquid discharge, we have built a new wastewater treatment plant.”

To achieve the objective of 100 per cent water recycling, the project team consulted with several water consultants and contractors before selecting a partner to execute the project.

The scope of work included installing and commissioning the plant with the capacity to handle effluents like alkalis, acids, paints, and thinners from various sources. This also included a paint booth, effluents from the decanter factory, the high-speed separator factory, the aseptic module manufacturing unit, and the factory for pumps, valves, and fittings, as well as sewage from the kitchens and washrooms of the factories.

The installation of two MBR modules made the plant consistently meet stringent outlet parameters throughout its operation. The treated water from the MBR modules is directly recycled back to washrooms and used for gardening, ensuring that 100 per cent of the incoming water is reused, thereby reducing the need for raw water. The centre from the decanter is sent directly to the inlet of the treatment plant, and the cake, now largely free of harmful substances, is repurposed as fertiliser for gardening.

With this treatment plant, Alfa Laval India has ensured that no water is discharged into the drain and is entirely recycled for internal use. The plant also recently installed stormwater drain lines equipped with rainwater recharge pits to help replenish groundwater.

“Integrating Alfa Laval products into the overall plant design was a challenge. Due to the plant’s high performance, we have consistently been able to treat and recycle wastewater for use in gardening and flushing applications. By reusing treated wastewater, we have reduced our freshwater consumption by 12,000 cubic meters, or 12 million litres,” says Sanjay Marne, AL India’s Health, Safety & Environment Manager. “Alfa Laval products have helped us comply with strict environmental regulations and demonstrate to our customers that we walk the talk when it concerns water-saving and circularity goals under sustainability.”