At the present time the knowledge exists to convert virtually any effluent into potable water by simply selecting the right treatment method or combination of treatment technologies. The reality is that this is seldom attempted because it is rarely the most cost effective option; economics rule. It is also true that in today's society there are increasingly stringent regulations requiring more and more treatment of industrial effluents to generate product waters of higher quality which are more easily reused or disposed of to the environment without any adverse effects. As a consequence a wide range of treatment technologies have been developed and optimised for a variety of applications across many diverse industries. The purpose of this Virtual Journal of Industrial Effluents is to collect and collate these success stories in the hope that what has worked cost effectively in one situation for one wastewater may be extrapolated to other effluents.