Among the improvements Tupy has been promoting as from the beginning of the decade, the effluent treatment has received special attention. With investments of R$ 7.8 million, the company built and is now operating, at the Joinville industrial plant, two new stations - ETE GHW and Main ETE, which, together, have capacity to process 48 m3 (approx. 1,700 cubic feet) of industrial and sanitary effluents per hour.

The ETE GHW is exclusive for the engine blocks and heads unit, where half of the production volume is concentrated and has been given its name after the brand name of the German manufacturer of the cupola furnace that is installed in that unit. ETE stands for Effluent Treatment Station. With capacity to process 20 m3 (aprox. 700 cubic feet) per hour, it only treats industrial effluents. The main ETE has capacity to process 28 m3 (aprox. 900 cubic feet) of effluents per hour and is divided into two parts.  One concentrates the industrial effluents, including those with paint and oil residue, which were treated separately in the past, and the percolating structure of Tupy’s industrial landfill. The other one is dedicated to the sanitary effluents that go through a physical-chemical and biological treatment.

Besides those stations, Tupy also operates a third station, that is exclusive for effluents containing acids from the pipe fitting manufacturing process. The resulting residue is classified and sent to the appropriate disposal.

Taking care of sanitary effluents, from restrooms and kitchens used by the more than seven thousand employees, is a great advancement and an important contribution by Tupy to the city sanitation. Another important action is that the  system works in a closed circuit, allowing the whole volume of resulting water to be reused in the manufacturing processes. The water reutilization, besides contributing to the environment, results in financial economy. In the first three months of operation, the volume of water reused was equivalent to the water needed by around one thousand households in a month and has allowed for a reduction of 28% in the water bill.

Also, the Mauá unit counts on an exclusive effluent treatment station and effluents are reused in the processes. Sanitary effluents at the Mauá plant are treated at a shared station that belongs to the industrial condominium where the plant is located.