Water saving potential at small enterprise: case study Mandhegani eco-print Surabaya

Abstract

Mandhegani eco-print is one of the small enterprises at Kalidami, Surabaya. Eco-printing is a textile design method that involves imprinting plant parts onto fabric using natural dyes. Eco-print process consumes water from preparing plant materials to finishing fabrics but there is no research conducted on the usage of water in the eco-print process and the water-saving potential. The objectives of the research were to estimate the water usage at the eco-print process and the characteristics of eco-print wastewater. The sampling of wastewater and interviews with the handicrafters were conducted to quantify the water usage at every step of the eco-print process. The results of the study showed that with the mirroring method, the total water usage was 11 liters for 6 meters of fabric. The characteristic of wastewater at the scouring phase was BOD 180 ppm, COD 747.78 ppm, and TSS 1900 ppm. The first mordanting stage: BOD 620 ppm, COD 1382.76 ppm, and TSS 61980 ppm. At the second mordanting was BOD 80 ppm, COD 192.18 ppm, TSS 9300 ppm, and total Fe 0.97 ppm. The water-saving potential could be up to 30% if the enterprise managed the water usage at the mordanting and mordan-in step of the process.