Given the shortage of water resources and the increasing costs for water treatment and waste water disposal, the demand for new recycling technologies is rising.The subject of reducing waste water volumes to the point where waste water can be avoided entirely, as well as the multiple use of treated waste water, is the most discussed topic in water management in the steel industry.

At the same time, ‘zero liquid discharge’ (ZLD) concepts are being considered for individual branches of industry for a variety of reasons. When it comes to their implementation, however, priority is given to economic factors. The degree of implementation depends on the economic and ecological boundary conditions. From the treatment of the available water using measures integrated into the production process – up to waste water treatment – ZLD applies to the entire process chain.