# What does BRSR ask about zero liquid discharge, and how do we answer it?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/brsr-zero-liquid-discharge-question

Principle 6 essential indicator 4 asks whether the company has a mechanism for zero liquid discharge, and if yes, for details of its coverage and implementation. Answer site by site: which plants run ZLD, since when, what the system treats, and how much water it recovers.

## The question

BRSR Principle 6, essential indicator 4: Has the entity implemented a mechanism for Zero Liquid Discharge? If yes, provide details of its coverage and implementation.

## A clear answer

- Plants covered and plants not covered, with the reason.
- Treatment steps: for example, effluent treatment, reverse osmosis, evaporator and crystalliser.
- Water recovered and reused in kilolitres, from flow meters.
- Whether ZLD is a consent condition from the pollution control board.

## Link it to the water table

The ZLD answer should agree with the water discharge figures in the same principle. A plant claiming ZLD with discharge to surface water in the table will be questioned. ZLD evaporators also use energy, which shows up in your energy and Scope 1 or 2 figures.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads kWh, litres and kg from electricity bills and fuel invoices into a dated record per site, with the factor and source on every line, and prepares BRSR drafts from that data. Reports are self-declared drafts.

- [Water withdrawal vs consumption](https://senseible.earth/answers/brsr-water-withdrawal-vs-consumption)
- [Water intensity for BRSR](https://senseible.earth/answers/water-intensity-calculation-for-brsr)

Sources: [SEBI LODR Master Circular, 11 July 2023, Annexure 16 (BRSR format)](https://www.sebi.gov.in/sebi_data/attachdocs/jul-2023/1689087475880.pdf)

Last reviewed 2026-10-23.