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ITC has been 'Water Positive' for seven years in a row - creating two times more Rainwater Harvesting Potential than ITC's net consumption. Water will remain a very serious sustainability concern globally. India in particular faces a turbulent water future.With over 16% of the global population having access to less than 4% of global fresh water resources, water scarcity in India is likely to worsen over the years. Efficient water management will therefore be one of the key imperatives for sustainable growth.

The Bhadrachalam and Kovai mills use river water (83.6% of ITC's total fresh water usage) from the adjacent rivers while other units of ITC meet their requirements from ground water (14.8%) and municipal sources (1.6%).All ITC businesses practice the following sustainability strategies with regard to this precious resource:

Strategy 1: Water Conservation (through audits, benchmarking and use of best practices) to achieve the lowest specific water consumption (water per unit of production).

Strategy 2: Zero Wastewater Discharge: treating and recycling all wastewater.

Strategy 3: Enhancing our 'Water Positive' footprint through Rainwater Harvesting.

Our Bhadrachalam unit, the largest integrated paper and paperboards mill in India, accounts for 79.7% of the total fresh water intake in ITC. Although production in this unit has increased by nearly two and a half times since 1998-1999, the mill's intake of fresh water till last year had been contained and remained largely the same as in 1998-99. In our Tribeni mill,where large quantities of water is required for manufacturing of speciality papers, significant water conservation initiatives have been implemented to achieve reduction of 54% of specific fresh water intake since 1998 - 99. Water conservation methods in Kovai unit, since acquisition of the mill in 2004 has led to over 27% reduction in specific fresh water intake.

Specific Water Consumption

Various Initiatives have been undertaken in the mills for conserving water.

OZONE BLEACHING:
Bhadrachalam unit, in 2009, had introduced a cutting edge, high consistency Ozone delignification process names Ze Trac. Ze Trac Ozone being a stronger oxidant than chlorine requires smaller reaction systems and apart from being eco friendly (it does not produce undesirable by-products, such as AOX), results in improved brightness, pulp strength and cost efficiency.

Bhadrachalam pioneered Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) technology in India, in 2002. Successful implementation of  Ozone Bleaching, the first in India and second in Asia, demonstrates ITC's commitment to broadening its positive environmental footprint and achieving higher levels of Triple Bottom Line performance. The adoption of such contemporary, eco-friendly technologies have yielded encouraging results which include: 

  • Lower operating costs
  • Nearly 50% reduction in specific chlorine dioxide consumption
  • Enhanced pulp quality
  • Very significant reduction in adsorbable organic halides in the effluents
In last 3 years, units have achieved water savings of 22231 m3/day through 66 water conservation projects:
  1. Ozone scrubber water usage in EOP stage: The unit has a state of art Ozone plant for its Ozone Bleaching process requirement. The gases released out from the Ozone plant are scrubbed with the help of a solution of water and caustic.This has resulted into reduction in chemical consumption at EOP stage of bleaching as the scrubber water has similar characteristics.
  2. Machine back water usage for tower dilution: Back water is generated from the paper machines & is collected into a back water tank. This back water is then used in paper machine again for dilution at various stages.The benefits of this project is fresh water consumption reduced by 1500 m3/day, effluent load reduction at ETP by effective utilization of back water after proper treatment at disc filter and reduction in fibre loss.
  3. Recirculation of Jet Condenser water: CD filter vapours are condensed in jet condenser & non condensables are taken out by a vacuum pump. Cooling water is provided to both jet condenser & vacuum pump which has led to an annual water consumption reduction of 1,65,000 m3.
Besides the above projects, back water is recycled in Bhadrachalam for floor cleaning.
 
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