Disclosed herein are a method for treating a water stream in a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system and a ZLD system. The method includes contacting the water stream with a metal agent that reduces a nitrate contained therein to a nitrite, and introducing an amide into the water stream that reduces the nitrite to nitrogen to provide a treated water stream having a reduced nitrate concentration. The ZLD system includes a mix tank, an amide tank including an amide, and a crystallizer. The mix tank includes an inlet for receiving a water stream within the mix tank, and a container including a metal agent. The container is designed to allow the water stream to contact the metal agent. The amide tank is designed to direct the amide into the water stream, and the crystallizer is designed to receive the water stream from the mix tank.