Wastewater Treatment for Sustainable Fashion

The textile industry is a major consumer of water globally, with fabric cleaning alone contributing to 20% of the world's wastewater. This water is often polluted with dyes, chemicals, and other contaminants. As the fashion industry moves towards more sustainable practices, addressing water wastage in fabric cleaning has become crucial.

Today, both large and small fashion businesses are committed to sustainability. At NoName, a leading sustainable clothing manufacturer in India, we're proud to be part of this movement, using innovative water-saving techniques.

Our goal is to turn waste into a resource and set new standards for sustainability in fabric cleaning. In this blog, we’ll explain how we reduce water waste and implement effective practices for sustainability. Join us to learn about our approach to water conservation and how we’re making a positive impact in the industry.

Characteristics of Wastewater Treatment

Understanding the nature of wastewater from fabric cleaning is key to effective treatment. Typically, this wastewater contains:

• High Organic Load: Detergents and leftover fabric fibers contribute to this, making treatment more challenging.
• Suspended Solids: These include fibers, dyes, and other particles that need to be removed for clean water.
• Color: Dyes used in cleaning processes give the water its distinctive color.
• Toxic Chemicals: Harmful chemicals from cleaning agents may be present and need careful handling.
• Fluctuating Flow and Composition: The water's flow rate and composition can change, making treatment more complex.

Treatment Process of Wastewater at NoName

At NoName, we’ve developed a comprehensive wastewater treatment process to tackle these challenges. Our treatment involves several key stages to ensure thorough cleaning before recycling.

Pre-treatment

• Screening: We remove large debris like fabric pieces, buttons, and zippers to prevent them from interfering with the treatment process.
• Equalization: Wastewater is stored in tanks to stabilize its flow and composition, ensuring consistent quality.
• Neutralization: The pH of the water is adjusted to the optimal level for biological treatment by adding acids or alkalis as needed.

Primary Treatment

• Sedimentation: Large suspended solids settle in sedimentation tanks, removing much of the organic matter and easing the load on later stages.

Secondary Treatment

• Activated Sludge Process: Microorganisms break down organic matter in the water. The water is then separated from the sludge in a clarifier.
• Trickling Filter: Wastewater flows over a bed of rocks or media with microorganisms that degrade the organic matter, further purifying the water.
• Membrane Bioreactor (MBR): This advanced method combines biological treatment with membrane filtration, retaining microorganisms and producing high-quality water.

Tertiary Treatment (Optional)

• Filtration: Remaining solids are removed using sand filters or microfiltration membranes.
• Disinfection: Harmful pathogens are inactivated using chlorine, ultraviolet radiation, or ozone, making the water safe for reuse.
• Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP): We use powerful oxidants to break down tough pollutants, ensuring thorough cleaning.

Advanced Filtration and Recycling

Our water conservation efforts go beyond basic treatment stages. After initial processing, wastewater is treated in a flash mixer with three different solutions to remove impurities. It then moves to a tube settler tank, where remaining impurities rise to the surface for easy removal. The cleaner water is further purified in filter tanks, making it suitable for recycling back into production.

Sludge Management

The sludge generated during treatment needs careful handling to manage it sustainably:

• Thickening: The sludge volume is reduced, making it easier to handle.
• Digestion: Sludge is stabilized through digestion, producing biogas as a by-product.
• Dehydration: Water is removed from the sludge, reducing its volume for easier disposal or reuse.
• Incineration: In some cases, sludge is incinerated to generate heat and ash, further reducing its volume.
• Land Application: Treated sludge is sometimes used as a soil conditioner, with careful consideration of environmental impacts.

Conclusion

At NoName, we are dedicated to leading the way in sustainable clothing manufacturing in India. Our innovative water treatment processes and recycling practices help us manage wastewater effectively and support our sustainability goals. By minimizing water waste and reducing environmental impact, we set new standards for sustainable fashion.

Our approach ensures responsible wastewater management, efficient water recycling, and sustainable sludge handling. This commitment demonstrates our dedication to advancing sustainable fashion practices and protecting the planet.

Thank you for exploring NoName’s water conservation practices with us. We hope this overview provides valuable insights into our efforts towards sustainability. For more updates on our environmental initiatives and advancements in sustainable fashion, don’t forget to like and subscribe!