Installation of Affordable, Customised Textile Wastewater Treatment Solutions

Integrating technology to enhance productivity, sustainability, and innovation in crafts

Project : Technology Common – Affordable & Appropriate Technology for Craft MSMEs

2 Indian men working on installation of tanks for a waste water treatment system

Funder: Ford Foundation

Location: Various

Key Outcomes

Pioneering low-cost, scalable wastewater treatment solutions that enable small craft enterprises to adopt environmentally responsible practices without high-end industrial costs.

Reduction in Pollutant Load

All units reported significant reduction in colour, odour, and suspended particles, resulting in cleaner discharge with minimal ecological footprint.

Increased Awareness & Adoption of Sustainable Practices

Artisans and producer leaders now better understand the environmental implications of dyeing and are motivated to adopt responsible effluent management.

Cost-Effective Environmental Compliance

The pilots demonstrate that micro-enterprises can meet environmental expectations without high-end industrial ETPs—making sustainability accessible.

Strengthening SSA’s Sustainable Craft Ecosystem

The initiative directly supports SSA’s long-term goal of enabling producer partners to adopt eco-friendly, regenerative production processes.

Scalable, Low-Cost Technology Models Developed

The three treatment models—Soil Scape, Organic-Bio system, and Chemical-Flocculation—provide adaptable solutions for diverse craft clusters.

Producer Ownership & Participation

All producer groups co-invested through labour, materials, or financial contribution, strengthening long-term ownership.

Integration with Safe Dyeing Practices

The wastewater pilots complement SSA’s ongoing transitions to safe dyes and natural dyes, ensuring an end-to-end sustainable production cycle.

Building Sector Knowledge for Wider Replication

Learnings from each pilot are being documented to create guidelines that will help replicate the technology across similar MSME craft units.

Responsible Organic Waste Treatment & Wax Sludge Management

For our block-printing processes, chemical coagulation was the most suitable. With SSA’s guidance, we are now able to manage our effluent more responsibly while keeping treatment costs within our capacity.

Ushagram Lokoshikshaniketan

Soil Scape Model Success

The Soil Scape system has helped us reduce colour and odour in our wastewater significantly. We are learning to maintain the microbial layers and are confident that this model will support our long-term sustainability goals.

Belun Hastashilpa

About This Technology Integration Project

Sarba Shanti Ayog (SSA) continuously supports producer partners in adopting environmentally responsible and resource-efficient production systems. As many dyeing and printing units move toward safer dyes and natural dye alternatives, it becomes equally important to ensure that wastewater—often released in ecologically sensitive rural areas—is effectively treated before disposal.

To address this gap, SSA initiated pilot installations of affordable and customised textile wastewater treatment solutions across five producer groups. These pilots aim to minimise environmental impact, promote safe practices, and enable small units to meet emerging compliance standards without the burden of high-cost technologies.

Project Details

The project focuses on demonstrating low-cost, scalable, and context-appropriate wastewater treatment solutions for micro and small craft-based dyeing units. The systems are designed to treat dye effluents through a combination of physical, biological, and chemical processes, making them practical for rural enterprises with limited space, resources, and technical capacity.

Five micro-ETPs (Effluent Treatment Plants) are currently in different phases of piloting:

Soil Scape Filter Systems (3 Producer Groups)

A vertical filtration model using biologically activated layers—organotreat, grit-sand, and rubble—to naturally break down pollutants. These units are now under stabilisation for consistent performance and future scale-up.

Organic & Physical System for Batik Unit (Ushagram)

Installed as part of an integrated system including ergonomic wash stations, rainwater harvesting, fuel-efficient ovens, and multi-layer wastewater treatment. Phase 2 involves designing a solar-powered mechanical wax removal system.

Chemical Coagulation & Flocculation System (Brindaban Prints)

Uses simple coagulants such as alum or ferric chloride to bind colour particles and separate them from wastewater. The system is currently being refined to enhance efficiency and reduce operating cost.

Each pilot aims to demonstrate a replicable model suitable for small craft clusters across rural India.

“Our goal is to enable small producer units to adopt practical, affordable wastewater solutions without disrupting their production cycles. These pilots demonstrate that even micro-enterprises can integrate environmental compliance meaningfully.”
— Sujata Goswami, Project Lead & Executive Director

2 Indian men working on installation of waste water treatment system

Affordable Chemical & Physical Waste Processing System