Addressing Water Footprint

What is the issue?

Water management and resource development must also be included in the corporate agenda, just like the carbon footprint.

What is the need?

• Water footprint - Industrial societies thrive on an extensive use of water to run their manufacturing facilities.
• These industries discharge large quantities of water from their sites and leave a worrying water footprint.
• Water crisis - A recent report has pointed out that around 75 million Indians have no access to safe drinking water supply.
• Water supply in India for long has been dependent on two principal sources — rivers and groundwater.
• Sadly, Indian rivers continue to shrink as a result of gross industrial pollution.

• Also, growth in population over the decades has resulted in the depletion of groundwater resources, leading to a water crisis.
• Indian government has announced a water index to rank states on the merit of their water management capabilities.
• Beyond this and other such government efforts towards water conservation, India needs the contribution of the industrial entities.

How can corporates contribute?

• Companies - Companies need to first assess their water footprint or the total volume of freshwater that is used for company operations.
• Corporates can adopt a three-pronged sustainability approach of reducing, recycling and replenishing water resources.
• Metering, monitoring and controlling water usage at manufacturing facilities and commercial establishments can be a good start.
• By proactively reducing the water footprint, companies can also turn water into a competitive advantage.
• CSR - Investments must be channelized towards Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours.
• Corporates can educate rural communities on traditional methods such as rainwater harvesting and groundwater restoration.
• They can also focus on empowering farming communities with water efficient techniques like drip irrigation.
• Collaborations- Partnering with private institutes and universities for research on water management and resource development will be critical.
• Fostering relations with local water administrators and researchers could also be promoted.
• Assessment - The objectives of an organisation should be aligned in consideration with wider values of people, planet and profit.
• Accordingly, corporates need to revise the way an organisation’s success is measured.
• It should necessarily include the sum total of all actions in economic, environmental and social areas.
• The assessment should take into account, both positive and negative impact by adopting strategic projects and measuring the impacts.
• The renewed emphasis on clean water and sanitation are essential for achieving the sustainable development goals.
• It is also crucial in resolving the looming water crisis and keeping up the government's ‘water for all’ promise.

Source: Financial Express