Sri Lanka’s coir industry reached an important milestone last month, with the commissioning of a pioneering wastewater treatment plant for the Botanicoir (Pvt) Ltd factory in Dankotuwa.

The wastewater produced in the process of removing unwanted elements in the coir substrate manufacturing process, if not managed properly, can become a threat to the local environment. No cost-effective technology was available to treat this wastewater. Therefore Puritas (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Haycarb PLC, using its state-of -the-art analytical laboratory and pilot scale testing facility, successfully designed, constructed and commissioned an advanced wastewater treatment plant at the Botanicoir production site in the North Western Province.

Incorporated in 1995, Puritas (Pvt) Ltd, provides consultancy and turnkey solutions for raw water, sewage and industrial wastes. In addition, Puritas offers customized, innovative solutions to suit specific waste characteristics, site conditions and budgets. The company’s portfolio encompasses over 250 treatment plants in Sri Lanka and in Maldives, Indonesia and Thailand, treating a diverse range of effluents including DC mills, Rubber, Paint, Packaging, Printing and for the Food Industry.

Botanicoir is now the first coir substrate manufacturer with such an advanced wastewater treatment plant. All wastewater is collected in a closed, central system and large particles are removed with advanced filtration technologies. The wastewater is then purified via several treatment processes. "After treatment, the water is totally clear and it meets all standards of the Central Environmental Authority", says Botanicoir’s Managing Director, Mr. Kalum Balasuriya.

Representatives of the Provincial Environmental Authority (North Western Province) were present during the opening ceremony, underlining the importance of the first Wastewater Treatment Plant for the Sri Lankan coir industry. This technology is now available for other coir manufacturers as well and Puritas officials can be contacted on (mobile: 0777 536599; e-mail: sv@haycarb.com; Web: www.puritas.lk)