Prepare for the ETP assessment
An ETP is a complex set of operations involving various stages of treatments to remove or drastically reduce a wide range of pollutants from the wastewater, including organic matter, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, suspended solids, microfibres, oils and pathogens.
The discharged wastewater/effluent must meet specific quality standards set by regulatory authorities or voluntary initiatives before it can be released into natural water bodies and reservoirs or reused in industrial processes.
Pre-requisites for a facility to undertake the ETP assessment
To perform a ZDHC ETP Assessment, a facility must:
- Have a functioning ETP for direct discharge during the assessment calendar year.
- Have the relevant legal permit/licence to operate the ETP and discharge the effluent to the environment.*
- Have completed at least one Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines test report.
- Hold the original ETP design and modifications document, including a hydraulic diagram and anticipated flow rate, considering the maximum wastewater generation capability of all wet production machines.
- In case the original ETP design and modification documentation is not available, the facility should provide the ETP operational methodology documentation that explains the treatment process and concept and provide sizes, volumes, flows, and loading of the units within the ETP.
* This is evaluated only during pre-assessment.
An efficient ETP should monitor and measure
- Compliance with legal standards for discharged wastewater/effluent.
- Conformance to the conventional parameters, foundational limit values in the ZDHC Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines, at a minimum.
- Conformance with the norms as per the ETP design.†
- Optimal energy and chemical usage per m3 of treated water.
- Optimal sludge generated per m3 of treated water.
- Ability to handle the facility's peak pollution load generated with an adequate buffer capacity and no allowance for a bypass.
†Since conventional parameters are mainly achieved through an efficient ETP operation, the ETP Assessment also lends credibility to the ZDHC ClearStream Report results for conventional parameters.
Assement areas and purpose
The ZDHC ETP Assessment consists of three assessment areas that will be verified by the ZDHC Approved ETP Reviewer:
ETP design
The facility has ETP equipment aligned with the ETP design document and is expected to meet ZDHC conventional parameters, foundational limits for the current production and has the capacity to handle peak production effluent volumes.
The facility can demonstrate ETP design validation by an independent professional engineer.
Operation controls
The facility has systems in place to:
- Monitor and analyse ETP operational data for all parameters applicable to the facility.
- Internally review and assess each operational step.
- Maintain equipment and treatment units.
- Carry out problem-solving for any discrepancies in operations.
Team competence
The facility has a capable team with:
- Knowledge and skills for the ETP operations and any corrective actions required.
- Trained ETP operators.
- An organisational chart of the ETP team with defined roles and responsibilities.
- Understanding of local regulations for effluent monitoring and ZDHC Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines.
Pre-assessment documentation required
The following documents should be provided by the facility to the ZDHC Approved Reviewer to be reviewed before planning the on-site visit:
Allowing verification that the facility is adhering to ZDHC Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines discharge norms and identifying any non-conformities in conventional parameters.
Provide an original ETP design document that includes a hydraulic diagram and anticipated flow rate that was taken into account during the ETP design stage, considering the maximum wastewater generation capability of all wet production machines.
To verify if any monitoring systems are present at each treatment step within the facility.
To support understanding of the size, operations and location of the ETP within the facility.
To understand the size, operations and the input chemicals used in the facility and the location of the ETP within the facility.
To identify variations in production volumes and peaks. Additionally, identify the various processes within the facility.
To identify the piping layout and bypasses.
- Licence to operate issued by the local regulatory authority.
- Wastewater discharge permit and the discharge location are authorised by the local regulatory authority.
Provide the documents below to confirm that the ETP is functional at the facility:
- Water consumption records for last six months
- Electricity meter records or invoices for last six months
Provide an original ETP design document that includes a hydraulic diagram and anticipated flow rate that was taken into account during the ETP design stage, considering the maximum wastewater generation capability of all wet production machines.
To be used during the on-site assessment of the ETP operations
To be used during the on-site assessment of the ETP operations.
Allowing verification that the facility is adhering to ZDHC Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines discharge norms and identifying any non-conformities in conventional parameters.
To monitor the water consumption and average effluent load generated from the facility.
To confirm the production volume data.
To verify if any monitoring systems are present at each treatment step within the facility.