Chandigarh: Aiming to improve water-use efficiency in industries, reduce freshwater consumption and prevent contamination of groundwater and surface water, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has drawn up a mechanism for auditing industrial units to identify excessive water use, losses, wastewater management gaps and deficiencies in treatment systems.Over the years, declining groundwater resources and pollution caused by inadequately managed wastewater have emerged as major challenges. Excessive groundwater extraction puts pressure on the state’s available water resources, while poorly treated or untreated sewage and industrial effluent can contaminate rivers and other water bodies.The board has drawn up a water audit mechanism to enable technical institutions to scientifically assess water consumption, wastewater generation, treatment performance, recycling and reuse, as well as losses and unaccounted water streams. The exercise is also intended to identify technically and economically feasible measures to improve water-use efficiency and wastewater management.The framework provides for two categories of audits. A basic audit will examine water sources, major consumption points, metering network, wastewater streams and routing, conservation and reuse measures, disposal arrangements and industry records, besides preparing a water balance. The board may require a specialised audit depending on water consumption, wastewater generation, pollution potential or the complexity of treatment systems.A specialised audit will include critical flow measurements, hydraulic and pollution-load assessments, performance checks of effluent treatment plants (ETPs), sewage treatment plants (STPs) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems, and detailed assessments of recycling and reuse. Targeted sampling and testing, including groundwater sampling wherever required, will also be undertaken.The audits will assess water drawn from groundwater, surface water and canal sources, verify applicable permissions and examine consumption at different stages of industrial processes. Auditors will reconcile freshwater intake with water use, evaporation, recycling, wastewater generation and losses to identify unexplained gaps and recommend measures to reduce freshwater consumption.The mechanism also provides for identifying leakages, overflows, unauthorised diversions and the discharge of untreated or partially treated effluent. For units connected to common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), auditors will examine the adequacy of wastewater collection, storage, conveyance and monitoring arrangements.Treatment plants will be assessed against actual wastewater quantities and pollution loads to identify operational or design deficiencies and determine whether improvements, modifications or additional capacity are required. For industries operating ZLD systems, the audit will examine the reuse of recovered water, management of concentrates and residues, and whether the system is capable of achieving and maintaining zero liquid discharge under the assessed operating conditions.The framework also covers the use of treated wastewater for plantation, horticulture and irrigation. Auditors will assess the suitability of the land, soil conditions, wastewater quality and quantity, and local hydrogeology. Where necessary, they may recommend groundwater monitoring through piezometers or monitoring wells to assess potential contamination.Industries will have to provide relevant records, permissions, production data, water and wastewater details, treatment-system information and laboratory reports, besides facilitating inspections, measurements and sampling. Empanelled institutions must conduct audits independently and impartially, disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest, and remain responsible for the technical accuracy and integrity of their findings.PPCB Member Secretary Lavneet Dubey said the mechanism would enable technical institutions to carry out scientific assessments of industrial water consumption and wastewater management, identify deficiencies and recommend corrective measures. The board has recognised and empanelled institutions with the required expertise to undertake these audits in Punjab.
