ETP Plant Standard in BD
ETP Plant Standard in BD : The textile industry is one of the largest consumers of water in Bangladesh, and when the water is discharged as wastewater, it pollutes the rivers and surface waters. To address this issue, the Department of Environment (DoE) is promoting the use of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for dye plants in the country.
ETP Setup
The DoE requires an ETP setup as a prerequisite for factory reset authorization. However, only 52% of existing Bangladeshi industries have implemented ETPs, and many of these plants do not operate 24/7 or function correctly. Additionally, smaller industries often cannot afford to install proper ETPs and, as a result, discharge directly into the water bodies.
There are medium to large factories with state-of-the-art ETPs that operate efficiently and adhere to DoE regulations, and they emit even better quality than required. However, many such factories could improve their ETP’s efficiency to save money.
Some Other ETP Facts or Cases
Owners of factories that are interested in the proper running of the ETP allocate the necessary funds to operate it 24/7. But due to insufficient monitoring and the absence of proper management systems, they cannot ensure proper spending. In some cases, the mid-level management does not work as expected, resulting in heavy fines from the DoE for polluting the environment. Proper management linkage is lacking, and many state-of-the-art ETPs are not used and maintained correctly.
Law Enforcement, Its Regulations, and Enforcement
DoE has limited manpower and equipment, and it is unable to provide forced operation of ETP 24/7 a week. Many large textile mills are found to be not operating their ETPs and polluting the water bodies in the surrounding locality. Some of these factories are heavily fined; however, these sanctions do not guarantee that all factories will operate their ETPs correctly. The DoE requirement to have an environmental clearance requires the necessary factory activities to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). Due to lack of enforcement and monitoring, these plans are not properly implemented, and factory management does not take the initiative to absorb the knowledge into their management.
Conclusion for ETP Plant
ETP plants are essential to protect the environment and human health from the textile industry’s wastewater. All factories need to implement ETP Plant and operate them correctly 24/7 to protect the surrounding environment. Law enforcement agencies need to strengthen their monitoring and enforcement to ensure that factories comply with ETP regulations. Factories must take the initiative to educate their employees on ETP’s proper functioning and keep the DoE updated on their ETP’s progress to enjoy the regulatory and reputational benefits of their machines and setup.
FAQ
What is the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and why is it important in Bangladesh’s textile industry?
The Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) is a system that treats the wastewater discharged by textile industries to prevent pollution of rivers and surface waters. It is important in Bangladesh’s textile industry because the industry is one of the largest water consumers in the country, and the untreated wastewater causes significant environmental harm.
What is the DoE’s requirement regarding ETP setup in Bangladesh?
The Department of Environment (DoE) requires an ETP setup as a prerequisite for factory reset authorization in Bangladesh.
What percentage of Bangladeshi industries have implemented ETPs, and why do smaller industries often not install proper ETPs?
Only 52% of existing Bangladeshi industries have implemented ETPs. Smaller industries often cannot afford to install proper ETPs and, as a result, discharge their wastewater directly into the water bodies.
How are large textile mills that do not operate their ETPs properly dealt with by the DoE, and why do some factories receive heavy fines?
Large textile mills that do not operate their ETPs properly are fined by the Department of Environment (DoE) in Bangladesh. Some factories receive heavy fines because they cause significant environmental harm by polluting the water bodies in the surrounding locality.
What measures need to be taken to ensure that ETPs are operated efficiently in the textile industry in Bangladesh?
To ensure that ETPs are operated efficiently in the textile industry in Bangladesh, factories need to allocate the necessary funds to operate them 24/7 and ensure proper management systems are in place. Law enforcement agencies need to strengthen their monitoring and enforcement to ensure that factories comply with ETP regulations. Additionally, factories must take the initiative to educate their employees on ETP’s proper functioning and keep the DoE updated on their ETP’s progress to enjoy the regulatory and reputational benefits of their machines and setup.