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On World Water Day 2026, companies across India highlight the shift from water efficiency to ecosystem stewardship, focusing on community resilience, and long-term water security.
As climate variability intensifies, groundwater depletes and urban demand surges, the question is no longer whether businesses should conserve water, but whether they can afford not to secure it.
India’s water crisis is no longer an environmental footnote, it is fast becoming an economic and social fault line. As climate variability intensifies, groundwater depletes and urban demand surges, the question is no longer whether businesses should conserve water, but whether they can afford not to secure it.
On World Water Day, a clearer pattern is emerging across corporate India: water stewardship is shifting from operational efficiency to ecosystem responsibility.
At Tata Consumer Products, this transition begins with acknowledging the scale of the challenge. “At Tata Consumer Products, water stewardship is integral to Embedding Sustainability into our business strategy. As a growing company, we recognise the water footprint linked to our expanding operations and have undertaken a formal water-related risk assessment to guide our actions,” says Vishwa Bandhu Bhattacharya, Director, Sustainability, Tata Consumer Products.
The company’s positioning as a water-positive enterprise reflects a broader recalibration of corporate ambition. “Being a certified Water Positive Company, we are committed not only to responsible water use but also to protecting and replenishing the ecosystems that support our business and communities.”
This shift from minimising impact to actively restoring systems is increasingly defining the next phase of corporate sustainability. At Tata Consumer, this translates into investments that go beyond the factory.
“Aligned with the ethos of Tata Group’s Project Aalingana – calling for water positivity, we invest both financial and human capital to advance long-term water resilience. Our efforts go beyond improving operational efficiency to include watershed restoration and community-led water management across the regions where we operate,” adds Bhattacharya.
What distinguishes this approach is its reliance on science-led interventions and local engagement. A key example is Project Jalodari, our flagship water management programme. We have adopted a science-led approach, beginning with comprehensive hydrogeological assessments to establish a clear baseline for intervention.
The programme spans multiple geographies and combines infrastructure with behaviour change. “The programme focuses on creating sustainable water sources, enhancing sanitation awareness, and building community capacities in Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and UP. We work closely with partners deeply embedded in local communities to drive behavioural change alongside structural improvements, ensuring lasting impact,” adds Bhattacharya.
Even within plantations, the focus is turning to nature-based solutions. “We are also advancing nature-based solutions, such as the ‘lake-in-lake’ model in our Tata Coffee plantations, designed to enhance groundwater recharge and strengthen ecological resilience.”
The underlying message is one of collective responsibility. “On World Water Day, we reaffirm that meaningful water stewardship requires collaboration across businesses, communities, institutions and ecosystems, an approach we remain deeply committed to.”
This idea of water stewardship as a shared, systemic challenge is echoed across industries.
At Orkla India, water strategy is being framed through measurable targets and decentralised interventions. “Orkla India, under its ESG strategy ‘Plan Nurture,’ focuses on water stewardship. Our ambition is to become a water-positive organization by 2030. This means going beyond responsible consumption and actively contributing to water replenishment, conservation, and sustainable water management,” says Ankita Sharma, Head of Sustainability, Orkla India.
Operational discipline remains a starting point. “Over the years, we have embedded water efficiency as a core principle within our operational strategy. In 2025, we reduced water consumption by 5% compared to 2023 levels across our operations by continuously driving efficiency,” shares Sharma.
But the company’s strategy extends into local ecosystems, particularly in water-risk regions. “A key pillar of our water stewardship program is rainwater conservation and groundwater recharge through school rainwater harvesting and community-based infrastructure.”
These interventions are designed for scale and local relevance. “In water-risk regions surrounding our operational sites, we have renovated and constructed farm ponds with a cumulative storage capacity of 110 million litres (100 million litres in Karnataka and 10 million litres in Guntur, implemented in a phased manner) to maximize local impact,” adds Sharma.
The outcomes are already visible. “Through these rainwater harvesting interventions, more than 100 million litres of water have been replenished, strengthening local water availability and improving resilience in water-stressed communities. In addition, we are building an additional 60 million litres of rainwater harvesting capacity this year.”
Crucially, the company is linking water stewardship with agriculture. “We are currently working with 500 farmers in Karnataka, supporting them in adopting efficient water-management practices through knowledge sharing, responsible irrigation techniques, and sustainable agricultural approaches.”
The broader context, Sharma notes, is one of escalating pressure. “We recognize that increasing water stress and climate variability are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources and communities. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration between businesses, communities, farmers, and local ecosystems to build resilient and sustainable water systems.”
And like many others, Orkla is positioning water as both a sustainability and business priority. “As we mark World Water Day, we recognize that responsible water management is not just an environmental priority, it is also a business imperative and a shared societal responsibility.”
If manufacturing-led companies are focusing on watersheds and agriculture, real estate and urban infrastructure players are grappling with a different dimension of the crisis: how water is consumed, recycled and lost within cities.
At Embassy Group, the emphasis is on circular water systems within built environments.
“Water is one of our most critical yet increasingly vulnerable resources, with climate change, rapid urbanisation, and rising demand intensifying the global water crisis. As businesses grow, so does the responsibility to manage water sustainably and equitably,” says Shaina Ganapathy, Head of Community Outreach Initiatives, Embassy Group.
Within its commercial real estate portfolio, efficiency is being driven through systems and technology. “Across 14 business parks within Embassy REIT, approximately 78%–80% of water was recycled until Q3 FY26 using advanced sewage treatment processes, complemented by low-flow plumbing fixtures and sensor-based technologies that enhance efficiency and minimize wastage.”
But like other companies, the strategy extends beyond operational boundaries. “Beyond our campuses, we believe meaningful impact lies in community-led action.”
Through its EcoGram initiative, the company has been working on restoring local ecosystems. “Through the EcoGram initiative, we have been working since 2016 to rejuvenate local water bodies, increase ground water table through catchment management, and implement scalable solutions such as rainwater harvesting and groundwater replenishment in the Bettahalasuru Panchayat.”
These efforts reflect a broader shift in how urban water challenges are being approached. “These efforts not only improve water access but also restore local ecosystems and biodiversity.”
The conclusion, increasingly, is unavoidable. “As water stress becomes a defining challenge of our times, it is imperative for organisations to move beyond conservation towards collaborative, long-term water stewardship. By working together across communities, corporates, and institutions, we can ensure a more resilient and water-secure future for generations to come.”
From Efficiency to Ecosystems
What emerges across these approaches is a clear transition. Efficiency, once the cornerstone of corporate water strategy is now only the starting point. The real shift lies in recognising that water security depends on the health of shared ecosystems.
For corporate India, this means moving beyond the logic of consumption and compliance towards one of restoration and collaboration.
On World Water Day, that shift is visible. The question is whether it can scale fast enough to match the urgency of India’s water crisis.
March 22, 2026, 10:23 IST