India is home to approximately 16% of the world’s population but has access to only 4% of global freshwater resources, creating an inherent vulnerability to water scarcity. According to NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index, approximately 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress, and 21 major cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad could face severe groundwater depletion by 2030.
This challenge stems from multiple factors: overdependence on groundwater, inefficient water management practices, low adoption of water recycling, and governance challenges. Groundwater accounts for about 65% of India’s irrigation and 85% of drinking water needs, with the Central Ground Water Board reporting that 256 out of 700 districts face critical or overexploited groundwater levels.
A Shared Responsibility
Water scarcity affects every sector of our economy and society. While the agricultural sector accounts for approximately 85% of India’s freshwater consumption, industries and households also play significant roles in both the problem and its solution. The encouraging news is that various stakeholders are beginning to take decisive action.
Corporate Water Stewardship
The private sector has a crucial role in addressing water scarcity. Companies are increasingly taking meaningful action through comprehensive water stewardship programmes that focus on both operational efficiency and community impact.
Effective corporate water stewardship begins with understanding risk exposure through mapping water hazards across operations and supply chains. Companies can then conduct water audits to establish appropriate metrics and identify conservation opportunities. This approach is exemplified by Singapore’s NEWater initiative, which meets up to 40% of the country’s water demand through advanced water recycling technologies, demonstrating how corporate and government collaboration can create resilient water systems.
Some organisations are implementing high-impact operational efficiency measures such as installing water-efficient fixtures, implementing leak detection systems, and exploring rainwater harvesting where feasible.
Technology is also playing a crucial role in these efforts. In Latin America, AI-powered companies are helping farmers monitor weather conditions, soil moisture, and water use in real-time. Through partnerships with agricultural companies, this technology has helped save over 30 billion litres of water in 2021 alone.
Beyond internal improvements, forward-thinking companies are also establishing replenishment programs in water-stressed areas, supporting projects that restore watersheds, improve community water access, and enhance water efficiency through local partnerships.
These corporate initiatives are most effective when they deliver tangible benefits to the communities where companies operate, focusing on watersheds directly connected to their operations and addressing the greatest local water management needs.
Government Initiatives Leading The Way
The Indian government has introduced several ambitious programmes to address water scarcity. These initiatives focus on providing safe drinking water to rural households, promoting water conservation and rainwater harvesting in water-stressed districts, improving groundwater management, rejuvenating rivers, and advancing efficient irrigation practices in agriculture.
Looking to other regions facing similar challenges, Australia has implemented flexible water pricing mechanisms based on availability and usage, particularly in cities like Sydney, providing another model for effective water resource management.
However, the success of these initiatives depends on strengthening policy implementation through several key actions:
First, reforming water governance institutions is essential. This means establishing clear rules and incentives for water use, pricing, and conservation, while promoting stakeholder participation across sectors.
Second, technological innovation needs government support. Investment in smart water grids can track and reduce urban water losses, while expanding incentives for micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler systems) can significantly improve agricultural water efficiency. Israel offers a compelling example here, reusing nearly 90% of its wastewater for agriculture through advanced water treatment and drip irrigation systems. These technological solutions must be made accessible to farmers through subsidies and training programmes.
Third, empowering local communities and institutions to manage water resources is critical. This requires capacity building, access to technology, and financial support for local governance bodies like Gram Panchayats. Initiatives that support participatory watershed management have shown promising results by combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques.
Community Engagement
Communities play a key role in reducing water wastage, improving conservation efforts, and holding other stakeholders accountable. Even small changes in daily habits can collectively make a significant impact:
- Installing rainwater harvesting systems in homes to capture and store rainfall
- Choosing more water-efficient appliances like low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets
- Adopting water-responsible lifestyles, such as planting trees to improve local water cycles
Reducing Consumption Of Water-Intensive Products
The role of communities extends beyond individual actions to collaborative efforts with non-profits and corporations. There are models where, providing micro loans to families, have enabled households to connect to water infrastructure and install basic sanitation facilities.
These efforts, aligned with India’s Jal Jeevan Mission, have empowered more than 20 million people in India with access to safe water and sanitation since 2019. This success story highlights how community participation, corporate support, and government initiatives can work together to create sustainable water solutions.
The Path Forward
Addressing India’s water crisis requires a synergistic approach that combines policy reforms, corporate initiatives, and active community participation. No single entity can solve this crisis alone—we need collective action across corporations, governments, NGOs, and local communities to create holistic, effective solutions.
As we continue this journey, it is important to remember that every action we take brings us one step closer to a water-secure future for all. Together, we can turn the tide on water scarcity.
Top Opinions
Top Interviews
Top Sustainability Bytes
