Does ZLD always mean zero effluent leaving the site? Do other companies expand boundaries to provide reusable water to others (industry / agri / community) as part of their ZLD commitment?
Are there any materials out there on ZLD definitions and frameworks that readers could share?
The goal in ZLD water treatment is to bring a solution to an industrial company to benefit of the value in its water by reusing over 95% of the wastewater and reducing liquid waste volume to almost nothing. It involves several steps from ion exchange, micro- and ultra-filtration up to at the end of the cycle, the unusable concentrate is processed by a liquid crystallizer to dry the sludge in crystals for safe and final disposal. It is a costly process chosen by companies that have very drastic compliance regulations to follow. Here is the link of a very interesting, technical article http://www.powermag.com/fundamentals-of-zero-liquid-discharge-system-design/
100% ZERO discharge with energy regeneration capabilities is ready. OMiOM Technologies (India) is ready to pilot its first 1 MLD pilot with 100% Zero discharge. One Million Liters of Waste Water (per day) converted to clean electricity for the STP to process another 1 MLD the next day. The volume can be increased to any scale. Good Days have Arrived ! For humans, environment and rivers across the globe.