How Do Industrial Textile Wastewater Limits Differ Under PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025?
How Do Industrial Textile Wastewater Limits Differ Under PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025?
1.0 Introduction
Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup/Badan Pengendalian Lingkungan Hidup Nomor 12 Tahun 2025 (PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025) establishes updated wastewater quality standards specifically for Indonesia's textile industry. Enacted on September 4, 2025 and effective September 9, 2025, this regulation replaces the textile-specific provisions in Lampiran XLII of Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup Nomor 5 Tahun 2014.
The textile sector has long been identified as a high-risk industry for water pollution due to the volume of wastewater generated and the specific chemical compounds used in dyeing and finishing processes. PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 addresses these concerns through a tiered approach based on discharge volume, introducing new parameters, and tightening certain limits for larger facilities.
2.0 Key Regulatory Changes
2.1 From General to Sector-Specific Regulation
Under the previous framework (Permen LH 5/2014), textile wastewater standards were embedded within a comprehensive regulation covering multiple industrial sectors (Lampiran XLII). PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 represents a shift toward dedicated sector-specific regulations, allowing more tailored standards that reflect the unique characteristics of textile wastewater.
2.2 New Parameters Introduced
PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 introduces two parameters not previously regulated for textile wastewater:
Color (Warna): Maximum 200 Pt-Co units. This addresses the visible pollution from dyes used in textile processing, which can persist in water bodies and affect aquatic ecosystems even at low concentrations.
Temperature (Suhu): Maximum 38 degrees Celsius. Thermal pollution from textile processing can disrupt aquatic life, and this limit ensures discharged water does not significantly alter receiving water temperatures.
2.3 Tiered Standards by Discharge Volume
A significant innovation in PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 is the introduction of tiered wastewater quality standards based on daily discharge volume. This approach recognizes that larger facilities have greater environmental impact and should therefore meet stricter standards.
3.0 Wastewater Quality Standards (Lampiran I)
The following standards apply to textile facilities with standalone (tersendiri) wastewater treatment systems:
3.1 Organic Matter Parameters
| Parameter | Less than 100 m3/day | 100-1,000 m3/day | More than 1,000 m3/day | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) | 60 | 45 | 35 | mg/L |
| COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) | 150 | 125 | 115 | mg/L |
| TSS (Total Suspended Solids) | 50 | 40 | 30 | mg/L |
3.2 Chemical Parameters
| Parameter | All Discharge Volumes | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Total Phenol | 0.5 | mg/L |
| Total Chromium (Cr) | 1.0 | mg/L |
| Total Ammonia (as N) | 8.0 | mg/L |
| Sulfide | 0.3 | mg/L |
| Oil and Grease | 3.0 | mg/L |
3.3 Physical Parameters
| Parameter | All Discharge Volumes | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6-9 | - |
| Color | 200 | Pt-Co |
| Temperature | 38 | degrees Celsius |
| Maximum Wastewater Volume | 100 | m3/ton product |
4.0 Analysis: How the Limits Differ by Discharge Category
4.1 Small-Scale Facilities (Less than 100 m3/day)
Small textile operations face the least stringent BOD, COD, and TSS limits. With BOD at 60 mg/L, COD at 150 mg/L, and TSS at 50 mg/L, these facilities have greater compliance flexibility. This accommodates the economic realities of smaller operations while still ensuring baseline environmental protection.
4.2 Medium-Scale Facilities (100-1,000 m3/day)
Mid-sized facilities must meet intermediate standards: BOD at 45 mg/L (25% reduction from small-scale), COD at 125 mg/L (17% reduction), and TSS at 40 mg/L (20% reduction). These facilities typically have greater resources to invest in treatment technology but may not achieve the economies of scale of large operations.
4.3 Large-Scale Facilities (More than 1,000 m3/day)
Large textile operations face the most stringent requirements: BOD at 35 mg/L (42% stricter than small-scale), COD at 115 mg/L (23% stricter), and TSS at 30 mg/L (40% stricter). The rationale is that high-volume dischargers have proportionally greater environmental impact and possess the resources to implement advanced treatment technologies.
4.4 Uniform Chemical Limits
Chemical parameters (phenol, chromium, ammonia, sulfide, oil and grease) maintain consistent limits across all discharge volumes. This reflects the toxicity threshold approach: these substances pose significant environmental and health risks at any concentration above the specified limits, regardless of total volume discharged.
5.0 Integrated Treatment Systems (Lampiran II)
For facilities that combine textile wastewater with other wastewater streams (such as domestic wastewater) in an integrated treatment system, PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 provides a mass balance calculation methodology.
5.1 Maximum Discharge Calculation
The maximum combined discharge is calculated as:
Qmax = Qi + Q2 + ... + Qn
Where Qi through Qn represent the maximum discharge from each contributing activity.
5.2 Combined Concentration Limits
For parameters common to multiple waste streams, the combined limit is calculated using mass balance:
Cmax = (Ci x Qi + Cn x Qn) / (Qi + Qn)
Example from Lampiran II: - Process wastewater: BOD 60 mg/L at 100 m3/day - Domestic wastewater: BOD 30 mg/L at 200 m3/day - Combined BOD limit: (60 x 100 + 30 x 200) / (100 + 200) = 40 mg/L
This approach ensures that dilution from less-polluted streams does not allow facilities to circumvent treatment requirements for process wastewater.
6.0 Transition Period and Compliance
6.1 Two-Year Transition Period
Pasal 4 of PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 provides existing textile facilities that already hold Environmental Approval (Persetujuan Lingkungan) or Environmental Management Commitment Statement (SPPL) a maximum of two years from the regulation's effective date to comply with the new standards. This transition period runs until September 9, 2027.
6.2 Compliance Pathway
During the transition period, facilities must:
- Assess current wastewater quality against new standards
- Identify treatment system upgrades needed
- Implement necessary modifications
- Amend Environmental Approval or SPPL documents to reflect new commitments
7.0 Comparison with Previous Regulation
| Parameter | Permen LH 5/2014 (Lampiran XLII) | PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOD | Single standard | Tiered (35-60 mg/L) | Volume-based differentiation |
| COD | Single standard | Tiered (115-150 mg/L) | Volume-based differentiation |
| TSS | Higher limits | Tightened across categories | Stricter overall |
| Color | Not regulated | 200 Pt-Co | New parameter |
| Temperature | Not regulated | 38 degrees Celsius | New parameter |
8.0 Strategic Implications for Textile Industry
8.1 Technology Investment Requirements
Large-scale textile facilities discharging more than 1,000 m3/day face the most significant compliance burden. Meeting BOD limits of 35 mg/L and TSS limits of 30 mg/L may require advanced biological treatment systems, membrane filtration, or additional polishing steps beyond conventional activated sludge systems.
8.2 Color Removal Challenge
The introduction of color standards at 200 Pt-Co presents a particular challenge for dyeing and printing operations. Effective color removal often requires advanced oxidation processes, coagulation-flocculation with specialized chemicals, or activated carbon adsorption, adding to treatment costs.
8.3 Regional Considerations
The regulation development process considered feedback from Asosiasi Tekstil Indonesia (Indonesian Textile Association), particularly regarding temperature compliance in cooler regions like Bandung. Facilities in these areas may find the 38 degrees Celsius limit less challenging than those in warmer coastal industrial zones.
9.0 Legal Framework
PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 is issued under the authority of: - Undang-Undang Nomor 32 Tahun 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management - Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 22 Tahun 2021 on Environmental Protection and Management Implementation - Pasal 162 huruf b PP 22/2021 specifically mandates sector-specific wastewater standards
Upon enactment, Pasal 16A and Lampiran XLII of Permen LH 5/2014 (as amended by Permen LHK P.16/2019) are revoked for textile industry applications.
10.0 Conclusion
PERMENKLHBPH 12/2025 represents a significant modernization of Indonesia's textile wastewater regulations. The tiered approach based on discharge volume introduces proportional responsibility, requiring larger polluters to meet stricter standards. The addition of color and temperature parameters addresses previously unregulated aspects of textile wastewater that affect both aesthetics and ecosystem health.
For textile manufacturers, the two-year transition period provides time for technology assessment and investment planning. However, facilities should begin compliance planning immediately, particularly those discharging more than 1,000 m3/day that face the most stringent new requirements.
Legal Status Verification: Verify current status at peraturan.go.id.
This analysis is produced using AI-assisted research methods and should not be considered legal advice. For compliance decisions affecting your organization, consult qualified legal counsel familiar with Indonesian environmental law.
Disclaimer: This article was AI-generated under an experimental legal-AI application. It may contain errors, inaccuracies, or hallucinations. Readers should verify all information independently before relying on it for legal, regulatory, or compliance decisions. This content does not constitute legal advice.