In April 2013, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Aquatech had secured the contract for Egypt's first integrated ZLD (zero liquid discharge) facility. The client was ETHYDCO (Egyptian Ethylene & Derivatives Company); the contract was signed on 25 March 2013 in Cairo. At ETHYDCO's petrochemical site in Alexandria, process wastewater and cooling tower blowdown were to become cooling and boiler feed water. The treatment train: microfiltration, HERO reverse osmosis, electrodeionisation, a brine concentrator, a crystalliser and sludge handling. Construction was to take 13 months; Enppi managed the project.
The report showed reverse osmosis and brine concentration gaining ground in heavy industry beyond drinking water, in this case as a response to government ZLD rules meant to protect the Nile.