Water Footprint and Virtual Water Assessment for Textile Industries of Bangladesh

Water Footprint and Virtual Water Assessment for Textile Industries of Bangladesh

Salah Uddin Ahmed Dipu¹ & Nabil Ahemed Piyash²
Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET)^1,2
Email: salahuddinahmeddipu42@gmail.com¹

Abstract:
The textile and garment industry in Bangladesh, a significant contributor to the national economy and major exporter, heavily consumes water and causes environmental pollution (Sagris et al., 2015). This thesis evaluates the water usage and pollution in the sector by assessing its blue, green, and grey water footprints, focusing on the dyeing, printing, and finishing stages in three industries: KDS, FOURH, and AMBER. The study aims to provide insights into the virtual water footprint and current water management practices, identifying areas for improvement to promote sustainable water resource management in the textile industry.

Keywords: Water footprint; Virtual water; Textile industries; Groundwater depletion.

1. Introduction:
The textile and garment industry is a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s economy, providing employment to over 4.5 million people and generating more than 84% of the country’s export earnings. Despite its economic significance, the industry is a major consumer of water and a source of considerable pollution, particularly in the dyeing, printing, and finishing stages of textile production (Home – Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), n.d.). This study aims to evaluate the water footprints—blue, green, and grey—of these stages in three specific industries: KDS, FOURH, and AMBER. By analyzing the water usage and pollution patterns, the research seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s impact on water resources and propose strategies for sustainable water management. This is critical for mitigating environmental harm while sustaining the economic benefits of the textile sector in Bangladesh.

2. Literature Review

2.1 General Overview
The textile industry in Bangladesh is crucial for the country’s economic growth, being the world’s second-largest exporter of ready-made garments (RMG). However, this industry is also a major consumer of water, significantly impacting the environment through both consumption and pollution.

2.2 Historical Background
Global studies on the water footprint of the textile industry have largely overlooked Bangladesh. Research indicates that the annual water footprint of the textile sector is approximately 1.8 billion m³. The high water usage and resultant pollution potentially lower groundwater levels, leading to severe health issues for local populations. A study anticipated that by 2021, the textile industry in Bangladesh would generate around 349 million m³ of wastewater (Hossain & Khan, 2020).

2.3 Water Footprint Concept and Assessment
The blue water footprint refers to freshwater used in industrial processes, while the grey water footprint pertains to the volume of freshwater needed to dilute pollutants from manufacturing. Studies show that the textile sector’s blue and grey water footprints in Bangladesh are significant, with the grey water footprint comprising 86.15% of the total water footprint.

2.4 Textile Industries and Economic Impact
The rapid growth of the textile industry in Bangladesh has substantial economic benefits but also brings environmental challenges. Conventional industrial methods, poor water management practices, and inadequate wastewater treatment facilities are key factors contributing to the high water footprint of the textile sector.

2.5 Ground Water Depletion and Effluent Characteristics
The depletion of groundwater due to excessive water use in the textile industry poses a significant threat to sustainable water resources (Groundwater Level in Chattogram Drops by around 2.5 Metres a Year  | The Financial Express, n.d.). Effluent from the textile industry often contains high levels of pollutants, further exacerbating environmental issues.

2.6 Concept of Virtual Water
Virtual water, the hidden water embedded in the production of goods, plays a significant role in the textile industry. The process of growing cotton, dyeing fabrics, and manufacturing clothing consumes vast amounts of water, often in regions already facing water scarcity. By understanding and managing virtual water consumption, the textile industry can make more sustainable choices, reduce its environmental footprint, and promote water conservation practices globally (Oki & Kanae, 2004).

2.7 Summary and Implications
Addressing the water footprint of the textile industry in Bangladesh is essential for sustainable development. Improved industrial practices, effective water management strategies, and advanced wastewater treatment technologies are critical to reducing the industry’s environmental impact (Hossain & Khan, 2020).

3. Materials & Method

3.1 Materials and Data Collection

Product and Water Usage Data: Data on the quantity of product (tons per day) and water usage (liters per day) in the production process were collected from three textile industries: KDS, FOURH, and AMBER.

Table 3.1: Amount of product per day and required water per day of KDS Textile

Water used in administration zone 125,000l/24hr

Table 3.2: Amount of product per day and required water per day of FOURH Textile

Water used in administration zone 166,000l/24hr

Table 3.3: Amount of product per day and required water per day of AMBER Textile

Water used in administration zone 136,000l/24hr.

Table 3.4: Amount of yarn used per day in the following textiles

Effluent Characteristics Data: Both treated and untreated effluent samples were analyzed to determine the grey water footprint.

Table 3.5: Sample Characteristics of KDS Textile

Effluent Discharge =1435,328l/24hr ,

Abstract water =1760,328l/24hr

Table3.6: Sample Characteristics of FOURH Textile

Effluent Discharge =3134,000l/24hr

Abstract water =3478,000l/24hr

Table 3.7: Sample Characteristics of AMBERTextile

Effluent Discharge =1502,000l/24hr

Abstract water =1852,000l/24hr

In this study, the ambient water quality standard (Cmax ) was assumed to be 200 mg/l, the natural concentration (Cnat) in the receiving surface water body was 12 mg/l and the actual concentration (Cact) was 10 mg/l.

Imported Cotton Data: Data on cotton importation, including virtual water content, were gathered to assess the overall water footprint. Bangladesh, one of the world’s top producers of textiles and clothing, imports a sizable amount of cotton from other countries to satisfy domestic demand. Bangladesh buys cotton from a number of international locations. India, the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Australia are the principal exporters of cotton to Bangladesh. These nations are significant producers of cotton and major exporters of cotton to other countries (Export Statistica.Pdf, n.d.).

Table 3.8 Shows the total amount of cotton imports in kilogram unit in recent years.

3.2 Water Footprint Calculations

Blue Water Footprint: The volume of groundwater used in the production processes was measured (Hossain & Khan, 2017).

Grey Water Footprint: The volume of freshwater required to dilute pollutants in the effluent was calculated (Franke et al., 2013).

Green Water Footprint: Data from global studies were used to estimate the green water footprint for cotton cultivation (Egan, 2011).

3.3 Analysis Techniques

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): Samples were analyzed to measure the COD concentration using standard methods.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS): Water samples were filtered and analyzed for TDS and TSS concentrations using calibrated conductivity meters and weighing methods.

3.4 Methodology

Data Analysis: Factors influencing the water footprint, such as production processes, water management practices, and technology adoption, were analyzed.

Comparison: The wastewater output rates of the investigated textile industries were compared to identify patterns and areas for improvement.

4. Result

4.1 Blue, green and grey water footprint
The blue water footprint of these 3 industries (KDS, FOURH, and AMBER) has been determined using the chain-summation approach.Table 3.5, Table 3.6 and Table 3.7 were utilized to compute the grey water footprint. Pollutant load is nevertheless determined by COD because it offers a more complete measurement of organic matter and because its value is higher in textile effluent than in other parameters (No, 1995).

The footprint for blue, green and grey water is displayed in Table 4.1.

4.2 Import related water footprint

Table 4.2 lists the total amount of cotton Bangladesh ha4s imported over time along with the footprints of blue, green, and grey water that are associated with it (Bangladesh Cotton Imports by Year (1000 480 Lb. Bales), n.d.).

Table 4.3 lists the total amount of yarn Bangladesh has imported over time along with the footprints of blue, green, and grey water that are associated with it.

4.3 Export related virtual water
The table 4.4 lists the total amount of cotton Bangladesh has produced over time along with the virtual water of blue, green, and grey water that are associated with.

Table 4.5 lists the total amount of cotton Bangladesh has imported over time along with the virtual water of blue, green, and grey water that are associated with (Bangladesh (BGD) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners | OEC – The Observatory of Economic Complexity, n.d.).

4.4 Total virtual water footprint

Table 4.6 lists the total amount of virtual water that Bangladesh imports vs exports over time.

5. Discussion
The study analyzed the water footprint of three textile companies—KDS, FOURH, and AMBER—using data from their peak production month. The water footprint includes blue, green, and grey water footprints, with results varying based on production amount, fabric type, and dyeing process requirements.

These values indicate the volume of groundwater extracted and treated for use in textile production. AMBER Textile, being a denim industry, uses less blue water as it does not involve printing, which consumes significant water.FOURH has the highest green water footprint due to importing yarn from India, which has a large green water footprint for cotton lint. In contrast, KDS has the lowest due to China’s lower green water footprint.AMBER Textile has the lowest grey water footprint as it avoids the printing process, leading to fewer pollutants in the effluent.

5.1 Comparison between studied industries

Figures 5.2 indicate that FOURH has a higher green water footprint, suggesting a greater reliance on freshwater resources, and operates on a larger scale with a higher daily output than KDS. Despite its larger scale, FOURH demonstrates more efficient water management with a lower grey water footprint, indicating better wastewater treatment practices. Conversely, KDS produces more wastewater, reflected in its higher grey water footprint, suggesting less effective water management compared to FOURH.

5.2 Virtual water footprint

Figure 5.3 shows that the blue water footprint for exports is higher than for imports over the years. In 2020, producing a kilogram of textile products for export in Bangladesh required an average of 0.675×10¹² liters of freshwater. In contrast, importing a kilogram of products brought in goods produced abroad with a virtual water content of 7.88×10¹² liters per kilogram, reflecting the freshwater used in the exporting countries.

The green water footprint for exports is 0.223×10¹² liters per kilogram, indicating that 0.09×10¹² liters of rainwater or soil moisture were used for each kilogram of exported products. For imports, the green water footprint is 13.76×10¹² liters per kilogram, showing that this amount of rainwater or soil moisture was used in the production of each kilogram of imported products, mostly cotton from countries like India, China, the USA, and Vietnam. This disparity indicates that Bangladesh uses less green water for its textile exports compared to the green water used by these countries for producing the imported cotton.

The grey water footprint for exports is 3.58×10¹² liters per kilogram, meaning that this volume of water was polluted during the production of each kilogram of exported products due to wastewater containing chemicals and dyes. For imports, the grey water footprint is 2.62×10¹² liters per kilogram, indicating that this volume of water was polluted during the production of imported goods. Thus, exporting products with a higher grey water footprint means Bangladesh indirectly exports the associated water pollution, while importing products with a lower grey water footprint means it brings in goods produced with less water pollution.

6. Conclusion
The textile and garment industry in Bangladesh plays a pivotal role in the national economy but poses significant challenges in terms of water usage and environmental pollution. This study assessed the blue, green, and grey water footprints of the dyeing, printing, and finishing stages in three textile industries: KDS, FOURH, and AMBER. The findings reveal that these processes are substantial consumers of water and contributors to pollution. Effective water management practices are essential to reduce the environmental impact of this sector. By adopting sustainable practices, the industry can maintain its economic benefits while mitigating adverse environmental effects. Future research should focus on innovative water-saving technologies and pollution control measures to further enhance the sustainability of the textile industry in Bangladesh.

7. References

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Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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