Chennai and its industrial corridor — Ambattur, Guindy, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, Irungattukottai, Maraimalai Nagar, Gummidipoondi and Manali — host automobile plants, component makers, electronics, pharma, food, chemical and engineering units. Each produces process wastewater that must be treated to consent standards. Intellect Aqua designs, builds and operates effluent treatment plants (ETPs) from 10 KLD to 2 MLD for industries across the Chennai region.
Industries We Build ETPs For in Chennai
Automobile and Auto Components
Paint shops, phosphating, washing and machining generate oily, metal-bearing effluent. We use oil separation, chemical treatment, metal precipitation and biological polishing. See automobile industry solutions.
Electroplating and Surface Finishing
Chrome, nickel, zinc and cyanide-bearing rinses need segregated treatment, pH control and metal removal before any further stage.
Electronics and Precision Engineering
Low-volume but chemically varied effluent from cleaning and etching processes.
Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals
High-COD, variable effluents that need robust equalisation and biological or advanced oxidation treatment.
Food, Beverage and Dairy
High organic load, fats and oils. Anaerobic and aerobic biological treatment with DAF where needed.
Textiles and Garments
Dyeing, washing and printing effluent — see our textile ETP page.
Our ETP Design Approach
Every ETP starts with your effluent, not a catalogue. We:
- Study your production processes and identify every wastewater stream
- Measure flow and collect samples across shifts
- Test pH, COD, BOD, TSS, oil and grease, metals and TDS as relevant
- Review your consent conditions and discharge or reuse route
- Design a treatment train with margin for your worst day
- Share capital cost, running cost and a clear operating plan
Typical ETP Stages
- Screening, oil and grease traps, and equalisation
- Neutralisation and pH correction
- Coagulation, flocculation and clarification (or DAF for oily effluent)
- Biological treatment (MBBR, extended aeration, MBR or UASB)
- Tertiary filtration with sand and carbon filters
- Disinfection, UF and RO for reuse — see industrial RO
- Sludge thickening and filter press dewatering
For units that must not discharge, we extend the plant to zero liquid discharge.
Reuse Is the Smart Choice in Chennai
Industrial water in Chennai is expensive and supply is uncertain in dry years. Treating effluent to reuse quality for cooling towers, washing, gardening or even process water reduces dependence on borewells and tankers. We design ETPs with reuse in mind, so water savings are part of the return on your investment. See wastewater treatment and recycling in Chennai.
Upgrading Existing ETPs
Production has grown in most industrial units since their ETPs were built. Signs of overload include failing outlet tests, foaming, sludge carry-over, rising chemical consumption and RO fouling. We audit the plant, find the bottleneck and upgrade only what is needed — far cheaper than rebuilding.
Segregation Saves Money
Many industries mix every wastewater stream into one ETP — rinse water, concentrated baths, oily washings and domestic sewage. This makes treatment harder and more expensive. Segregating strong streams, such as spent plating baths or oily coolants, and treating them separately often cuts chemical use and sludge volume dramatically. Domestic sewage from toilets and canteens is best sent to a separate STP. During our study, we map every stream and recommend the most economical way to combine or separate them.
Sludge Handling
ETP sludge can contain metals and chemicals and must be handled as per rules. We design clarifiers, thickeners and filter presses to produce dry, compact sludge that is easier and cheaper to store and dispose of through authorised channels.
Compliance and Documentation
A working ETP is your best protection against show-cause notices and closure directions. We design to the treated-water standards in your consent order and provide log sheets, test records and process documentation that support inspections and consent renewals.
Operation and Maintenance
We provide trained operators, chemical supply, sludge handling, spares and testing through our AMC service in Chennai, for ETPs built by us or by others.
Why Industries Choose Intellect Aqua
- Chennai branch with engineers for site visits and service
- ETPs from 10 KLD to 2 MLD across many industries
- ETP, RO, ZLD and O&M from one team
- Design for reuse and compliance, not just discharge
- 15+ years of industry experience and 700+ projects
Areas We Serve
We build ETPs across the Chennai region — Ambattur, Guindy, Thirumazhisai, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, Irungattukottai, Maraimalai Nagar, Mahindra World City, Gummidipoondi, Manali, Ennore, Thiruvallur and Chengalpattu.
We also build ETPs in Ranipet, Hosur, Coimbatore and Trichy.
Get a Free ETP Assessment
Share your industry, daily effluent volume and current setup. We will visit, assess and send a clear proposal.