A water footprint case study in Jarum village, Klaten, Indonesia: The production of natural-colored batik

Batik production brings positive impacts economically, but negative impacts environmentally mainly of resulting in water scarcity due to pollution and inefficient use of water. In order to manage the production to be efficient and sustainable, the batik industries are expected to implement cleaner production. This research aims to examine the water footprint (WF) of natural-colored batik. The result showed that WF of batik-making process is 1309-5549L/pc. The total water footprint of a batik cotton fabric is estimated in the range of 3919-8159L/pc. We found the largest part of batik-making process' WF was derived from gray water footprint (GWF) that indicates water consumption for wastewater dilution. Substitution of specific ingredients that lead to high concentration of pollutants, such as soda ash which is usually used for wax removal, by more biodegradable materials is required. More advanced technologies in batik natural dyes coloration will also be expected in order to reduce the GWF. Finally, wastewater treatment and proper management on water resource are required to preserve batik as cultural heritage, reduce batik water footprint, and conserve water for both human and ecosystem in order to achieve both cultural and environmental sustainability.