Implementation and evaluation of sustainable measures for water conservation in denim producing mills of Pakistan
Abstract This study aims to assess and reduce water consumption and environmental footprints in denim mills located in the industrial areas of Lahore. Two mills, M1 and M2, were selected for the implementation of Best Available Technologies (BAT) based on the IPPC BREF Textile Document. The study wa...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Discover Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01237-2 |
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| Summary: | Abstract This study aims to assess and reduce water consumption and environmental footprints in denim mills located in the industrial areas of Lahore. Two mills, M1 and M2, were selected for the implementation of Best Available Technologies (BAT) based on the IPPC BREF Textile Document. The study was conducted in five distinct phases: (1) Planning & Mill Selection, which involved identifying mills based on their environmental impact; (2) Pre-assessment, where baseline data on water consumption and wastewater generation were collected; (3) Quantitative Assessment, consisting of detailed measurements and analysis of water usage at both mills; (4) Feasibility Evaluation Study, in which the applicability and potential effectiveness of various BAT options were evaluated; and (5) Implementation & Continuation, which involved applying the selected BAT measures, followed by ongoing monitoring and optimization. Baseline data for the year 2022 revealed specific water consumption of 53 L/kg for M1 and 47 L/kg for M2. The results demonstrated significant reductions in both specific water consumption and wastewater generation following BAT implementation, with reductions of 28.3% and 29.7% in specific water consumption for M1 and M2, respectively, during the period from January 2022 to December 2023. Total water consumption decreased by 14.5% in M1 and 23.6% in M2 compared to the baseline year. Furthermore, production increased by 19% in M1 from the baseline year. The findings suggest that the application of BAT measures, including wastewater reuse, machinery modifications, steam condensate recycling, and improved management practices, significantly reduced water consumption and wastewater discharge, contributing to a lower environmental footprint in the studied mills. However, these results may vary mill to mill based upon the type of processes, machinery and management practices, these results emphasize the role of BAT in driving water conservation and environmental sustainability in the textile industry. Graphical Abstract |
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| ISSN: | 2662-9984 |