Water consumption
India’s rapidly depleting water resources are going to make water one of the most scarce, and consequently one of the most expensive inputs required by the laundry industry. Most laundry owners claimed that they use 9-11 litres of water per kilogram for the entire laundry cycle; however, in reality, this figure may go up tp 17-20 litres/kilogram. Anand, Managing Director of Evergreen Drycleaners, Namakkal says that his laundry uses 95 litres for a 7-cycle process for white shirts. “If I use hot water, the water consumption may be halved, but I will have to invest much more than I already have”, he laments. Water as a commodity is presently taken for granted. However, this luxury may not be available for long. Last summer, Chennai faced terrible water scarcity. Ramkumar warns that everyone needs to take this seriously and needs to find a way to consume less water in the process. This will directly reduce wastewater generation and further decrease treatment costs.
Venkat advises laundries to start using a one-wash tworinse program with good-quality chemicals, which will reduce the water burden by three litres per kilogram. He also suggests reusing last-rinse water in the first-wash by putting a recirculation system in place. Srinivasan of Wash World Coimbatore agrees this can be tried, particularly for whites, and if the wash-water isn’t too stained. Manpower woes Kamal Sargunaraj, Managing Director, Kodai Cleaners, Kodaikanal shares, “Another significant problem for commercial laundry owners is the shortage of skilled labour. Even though we have installed high tech washerextractors and dryers, a certain degree of human effort is required to complete the cleaning process”.
Antony Wilfred, Managing Director, Pioneer Laundry, Hosur explains that non-recognition of the laundry sector as an industry is one of the reasons no skillset is developed in this sector. Expecting unskilled labour to use highly advanced processing methods is a challenge for everyone.treatment costs.
“If those who do all the hard work are not paid more than owners claimed that they use 9-11 litres of water per kilogram for the entire laundry cycle; however, in reality, this figure may go up tp 17-20 litres/kilogram.
Anand, Managing Director of Evergreen Drycleaners, Namakkal says that his laundry uses 95 litres for a 7-cycle process for white shirts. “If I use hot water, the water consumption may be halved, but I will have to invest much more than I already have”, he laments.
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My company has started using wood boilers, which are more cost effective than electricity or diesel.
-Ramkumar
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Water as a commodity is presently taken for granted. However, this luxury may not be available for long. Last summer, Chennai faced terrible water scarcity. Ramkumar warns that everyone needs to take this seriously and needs to find a way to consume less water in the process. This will directly reduce wastewater generation and further decrease treatment costs. Venkat advises laundries to start using a one-wash tworinse program with good-quality chemicals, which will reduce the water burden by three litres per kilogram. He also suggests reusing last-rinse water in the first-wash by putting a recirculation system in place. Srinivasan of Wash World Coimbatore agrees this can be tried, particularly for whites, and if the wash-water isn’t too stained.
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Washing, drying and steamironing one kilo consumes 1.4 units of power.
-Jeeva Gunasekaran
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