Rising stakeholder expectations, water scarcity and tightening environmental regulations are prompting organisations to adopt advanced wastewater management practices. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is a sustainablility strategy that enables organisations to maximise water recovery, eliminate liquid effluent discharge and enhance their environmental performance.

Eurofins Assurance offers independent third-party verification services to validate ZLD implementation against regulatory compliance, as well as assess water recovery and reuse performance. Businesses can leverage our verification services to translate their achievements into tangible findings and identify areas for improvements. 

What is Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)?

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is an advanced wastewater management approach  which ensures no industrial and domestic wastewater discharged outside the facility boundary.

Zero Liquid Discharge contributes to SDG 6.3, ISO 14001 and GRI 300 as it promotes the reuse of water and avoidance of water pollution. ZLD is also increasingly becoming a regulatory requirement for water intensive industries such as textiles, chemicals, distilleries and pharmaceuticals.

Eurofins Assurance's approach to ZLD Verification

Our verification approach rests on three key pillars:

Water balance and process assessment

Review of water consumption, sources, treatment systems, wastewater generation and site water balance. 

ZLD performance verification

This confirms wastewater recovery and reuse, treatment efficiency and proof that demonstrates ZLD status.

Compliance and independent assurance

Verification of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements (CPCB/SPCB), monitoring systems, environmental commitments and internal controls.

Scopes of ZLD Verification Services

To ensure we will have a comprehensive view of how a site manage its water usage and reusing, we evaluate and assess multiple aspects in the verification process:

• Flow analysis of water and wastewater.
• ZLD system evaluation (ETP, RO, MEE, ATFD, Evaporators, etc.)
• Validation of water recovery and reuse data.
• Review of the waste stream and residual salt/sludge management/disposal.
• Conformance certificate and independent ZLD verification report

Benefits of completing ZLD Verification

Independent implementation and verification of ZLD performance deliver several benefits:

• Regulatory compliance - Comply with CPCB/ SPCB requirements and meets customers’ expectations.
• Water conservation - Reduce water stress (recover and reuse water to reduce freshwater dependency).
• Circular economy enablement - Promote resource recovery and responsible waste management practices.
• ESG & sustainability credibility - Enhance water stewardship and sustainability disclosures to be consistent with national and global ESG frameworks.
• Lower environmental impact - Reduce impact related to wastewater discharge, regulatory non-compliance and groundwater contamination