Water Footprint of Cotton Textile Processing Industries; a Case Study of Punjab, Pakistan

Authors

  • Sohail Ali Naqvi WWF-Paistan, P.O Box 5180 Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Dr Masood Arshad WWF-Paistan, P.O Box 5180 Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Farah Nadeem WWF-Paistan, P.O Box 5180 Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan

Keywords:

Water footprint, blue water footprint, green water footprint, grey water footprint, textile processing, sustainable water use.

Abstract

World over, many studies have been published on the water footprints (WFs) of different commodities. In Pakistan, there is lack of information and awareness on water footprints of processes and products. This study throws light on the water footprint of cotton textile production in Pakistan. Blue, green and grey water footprints have been included in this research communication. Water footprint assessment is essential in determining how much water is consumed in which process and how it can be managed effectively. It is a reliable method to plan sustainable, equitable and efficient use of water resources. The results of the study revealed that the blue water footprint (BWF) of cotton seed in Punjab is 1898 m³/t. The water abstracted for textile processing is about 169 m³/t of finished fabric, of which approximately 26 m³/t is consumed (i.e. the BWF of textile manufacture) with the remainder being discharged as waste water. However, the water footprint of chemical inputs is not very high in comparison to other parts of the supply chain (less than 1 m³/t). Overall, the blue WF of finished textile in Punjab, Pakistan is 4650 m³/t on average.

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Published

2018-08-15

How to Cite

Ali Naqvi, S., Arshad, D. M., & Nadeem, F. (2018). Water Footprint of Cotton Textile Processing Industries; a Case Study of Punjab, Pakistan. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 46(1), 17–24. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/4295

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