Implementation of zero liquid discharge policy in industrial water management

Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) was one of the first sustainable resource recovery initiatives implemented in the early 1990s to protect both the quantity and quality of contaminated water resources. Industrial symbiosis and eco-efficient production/processing systems followed the practices of ZLD. In terms of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals proclaimed in 2015, preventing climate change, and reducing the carbon footprint, the most proactive recovery occasions are identified with the principles of circular economy. Industrial ZLD involves all historical developments that are passed on next generations by economic acquisitions and greener and smarter technologies. It will thus become a much more significant, priority, and indispensable issue in the coming years to provide complementary perspectives on holistic industrial water management. In this chapter, advanced industrial ZLD strategies were defined by SWOT analysis, and policy elements were clarified at the water−ecosystem integrity. A novel policy was constituted, and comprehensive and prospective assessments were made for the eco-sustainable management of industrial wastewaters.