Closing the Loop: Exploring Stakeholder Acceptance of Wastewater Treatment Technology and Water Reuse in Tirupur, India.

Abstract

This thesis seeks to explore contextual factors behind, and stakeholder perceptions on, the acceptance of wastewater treatment technology and water reuse in textile bleaching and dyeing facilities in Tirupur, India. Two main research questions are asked: 1. How has the mandatory implementation of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology driven physical changes in these textile facilities, and 2. How has implementation driven and shaped technology acceptance by the actors and stakeholders within these textile facilities? Through a multi-case study approach, five textile facilities and treatment plants in Tirupur were selected and studied, that represent a maximum variation of conditions of implementation and use. Qualitative methods of data collection and analysis were used to explore and contextualize perceptions on technology acceptance. Findings suggest that stakeholder acceptance is linked to a number of factors and themes. These factors vary from the perceived need for control over the process of treatment and reuse, to rising land and water costs. Thematic analysis indicates that, among other themes, stakeholder acceptance of ZLD technology and wastewater reuse can be linked to a shift in perspective from zero liquid discharge to zero waste, where water reuse and resource recovery are emphasized.