Industrial Water Footprint: Case Study on Textile Industries
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where L is the pollutant load reaching water bodies (in mass per time), C natural and
C max are the concentration of pollutants (in mass per volume) naturally found in the
surface water and maximum permissible pollutant concentration in the surface water,
respectively. In the case of agricultural activities, the major pollutants are leached
fertilizers.
12.3 Effect of Agricultural Practices on the Water Footprint
of Cotton Production
A thorough examination of the water footprint of raw materials and their processing
is very much important for minimizing water usage and making the overall process
more sustainable. It was identified that more than 60% of the cotton agriculture’s
blue water footprint lies in India [7]. It was found that out of all the cotton cultivated
lands in India, 39% of it belongs to a specific region called the Indus river basin
which is a major hotspot for water scarcity problems. Hence, the identification of
such hotspots and problems arising from these hotspots are very much important for
a sustainable water footprint. The water footprint associated with cotton agriculture
varies with varying cultivating practices. Two major agricultural practices include
conventional cultivation and organic farming.
Conventional farming is a common agricultural practice that is employed extensively in various parts of the world. Approximately, 90% of all cotton is grown
conventionally. Conventional farming can be rain-dependent or irrigated. It employs
a combination of synthetic agrochemicals for pest control and fertilizers for enhanced
or quicker growth. The restriction placed on the number of chemicals used is languid.
Conventional cotton uses about 16% of the world’s insecticides and 7% of the world’s
pesticides [7]. Variation within conventional farming can be observed from farm to
farm and from different geographic locations as there are no guiding principles
involved. Spraying of chemicals is often done on an extensive scale on all plants,
timed according to a prescriptive schedule. Although many conventional farmers
apply good agricultural practices and use fewer chemicals, they are not certified or
verified as being more sustainable.
Organic farming includes various techniques like crop rotation, biological pest
control, composts, etc., to make the process of agriculture of cotton eco-friendlier
and more sustainable. The chemical usage of fertilizers and pesticides is minimal and
is used only when these chemicals are derived from a natural source. Though ecofriendly, this practice only accounts for 10–15% of the total cotton production. This is
because organic farming is very time consuming and also produces low product yield.
These two different practices give rise to a very different water footprint. Conventional farming uses a profuse amount of fertilizers which extensively increases the
grey water footprint for such practices. Whereas in the case of organic farming more
importance is given to green and blue water footprint since there is minimal usage of
chemicals that harm the soil and surface waters. It was shown in the study [16], that
51
where L is the pollutant load reaching water bodies (in mass per time), C natural and
C max are the concentration of pollutants (in mass per volume) naturally found in the
surface water and maximum permissible pollutant concentration in the surface water,
respectively. In the case of agricultural activities, the major pollutants are leached
fertilizers.
12.3 Effect of Agricultural Practices on the Water Footprint
of Cotton Production
A thorough examination of the water footprint of raw materials and their processing
is very much important for minimizing water usage and making the overall process
more sustainable. It was identified that more than 60% of the cotton agriculture’s
blue water footprint lies in India [7]. It was found that out of all the cotton cultivated
lands in India, 39% of it belongs to a specific region called the Indus river basin
which is a major hotspot for water scarcity problems. Hence, the identification of
such hotspots and problems arising from these hotspots are very much important for
a sustainable water footprint. The water footprint associated with cotton agriculture
varies with varying cultivating practices. Two major agricultural practices include
conventional cultivation and organic farming.
Conventional farming is a common agricultural practice that is employed extensively in various parts of the world. Approximately, 90% of all cotton is grown
conventionally. Conventional farming can be rain-dependent or irrigated. It employs
a combination of synthetic agrochemicals for pest control and fertilizers for enhanced
or quicker growth. The restriction placed on the number of chemicals used is languid.
Conventional cotton uses about 16% of the world’s insecticides and 7% of the world’s
pesticides [7]. Variation within conventional farming can be observed from farm to
farm and from different geographic locations as there are no guiding principles
involved. Spraying of chemicals is often done on an extensive scale on all plants,
timed according to a prescriptive schedule. Although many conventional farmers
apply good agricultural practices and use fewer chemicals, they are not certified or
verified as being more sustainable.
Organic farming includes various techniques like crop rotation, biological pest
control, composts, etc., to make the process of agriculture of cotton eco-friendlier
and more sustainable. The chemical usage of fertilizers and pesticides is minimal and
is used only when these chemicals are derived from a natural source. Though ecofriendly, this practice only accounts for 10–15% of the total cotton production. This is
because organic farming is very time consuming and also produces low product yield.
These two different practices give rise to a very different water footprint. Conventional farming uses a profuse amount of fertilizers which extensively increases the
grey water footprint for such practices. Whereas in the case of organic farming more
importance is given to green and blue water footprint since there is minimal usage of
chemicals that harm the soil and surface waters. It was shown in the study [16], that