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On World Water Day 2026, companies across India are shifting from water efficiency to stewardship focusing on replenishment, community impact, and long-term water resilience.
Companies across India are integrating water stewardship into operations and communities, focusing on efficiency, replenishment and long-term water resilience on World Water Day.
India’s water story is entering a more fragile phase. With erratic rainfall, depleting groundwater and rising demand across agriculture, industry and cities, water stress is no longer a distant concern, it is an immediate constraint. For corporate India, this is triggering a structural shift: from managing water use within operations to actively participating in securing water systems.
Across sectors, companies are beginning to treat water not just as a resource, but as a shared ecological asset, one that demands long-term stewardship.
At PepsiCo India, this shift is visible in how water is being re-engineered within manufacturing systems while being replenished at the community level. “Water stewardship is at the heart of how PepsiCo India approaches sustainability. Our focus is simple: use less, reuse more, and replenish what is used,” says Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia.
Inside its snacks manufacturing facilities, this philosophy has translated into process innovation. “Inside our snacks manufacturing facilities, we’ve reimagined how water is used at every step. Technologies like the Potato Moisture Recovery System help us recover water from the potatoes themselves and reuse it, reducing our dependence on freshwater. In some plants, it now takes just 0.7 litres of water to produce a kilogram of chips, helping save nearly 40 million litres every year, ” adds Singh.
But the company’s strategy extends well beyond factory gates. “Beyond our plant operations, we partner with communities to support groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and better water management, especially in water-stressed regions. In 2025, we replenished 1.4 billion litres of water. These efforts have reached over 89,000 people, including more than 41,000 women,” opines Singh.
This approach is anchored in collaboration. Through the Partnership of Progress approach, they are working closely with communities and local institutions to turn intent into impact. “When solutions are built collaboratively, they become more sustainable, inclusive, and built to last,” believes Singh.
This combination of operational efficiency and watershed-level intervention is increasingly becoming a template particularly in water-intensive sectors where business continuity is closely tied to local ecosystems.
At United Breweries Limited (UBL), water stewardship is central to long-term resilience. The company is working towards reducing water intensity while simultaneously investing in restoring water systems in the regions it operates.
“Water is a shared resource and protecting it requires collective action. At UBL, water stewardship is central to our Brew a Better India strategy. We are focused on improving water efficiency across our operations while working closely with communities and partners to replenish water in water stressed regions,” says Garima Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, United Breweries Limited (UBL).
Its interventions reflect this dual focus. Garima Singh believes, “Our initiatives have helped restore and develop 87 water structures and positively impact more than 12,300 lives, contributing to stronger and more sustainable water systems. On World Water Day, we celebrate the power of partnerships and community action in building long term water resilience.”
UBL’s longer-term roadmap aligned with global sustainability goals underscores a broader industry shift towards balancing water use through community-led interventions, particularly in stressed geographies.
A similar recognition is shaping strategy at Diageo India, where water risks are being addressed not just within operations but at the basin level.
“Water is a shared and increasingly scarce resource, particularly in India where more than 50% of river basins are water stressed. Groundwater depletion, erratic rainfall and declining water quality are making water stewardship a critical priority for businesses and communities,” says Devashish Dasgupta, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo India.
Within operations, the company has focused on efficiency gains. “At Diageo India, we are addressing these issues through a water stewardship approach focused on building resilience at the basin level. Within our operations, we have improved water-use efficiency by 54% in distillation and 35% in packaging, and we recycle 100% of our wastewater across owned sites.”
At the same time, its work extends into ecosystem-level collaboration. “Alongside this, our community interventions support rainwater harvesting, pond restoration, borewell rejuvenation and access to safe drinking water,” adds Dasgupta.
This basin approach is particularly visible in Maharashtra. “Our work in the Godavari basin is a strong example of this approach. With four of our manufacturing units in Maharashtra dependent on this basin, its long-term health is critical. As a founding member of The Godavari Initiative, we are working with the government, industry, NGOs, and local communities to drive collective action on aquifer recharge, watershed restoration and improving water security for agriculture and communities. Our ambition is to grow responsibly while strengthening water resilience in the regions we operate in, because securing water for the future requires collective action today,” shares Dasgupta.
Beyond industry, companies are also investing in restoring natural water systems and strengthening rural livelihoods.
“Water availability is the bedrock of resilient communities and sustainable livelihoods. With a high number of water-stressed regions in the country, it is critical to conserve and replenish water sources,” says K Ganesh, Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International.
Its interventions are focused on ecosystem restoration. “Our ‘Project NAYI Umeed’ initiative under Bisleri’s Greener Promise drives conservation in some of India’s most water-stressed regions. By restoring check dams, reservoirs, ponds, and lakes across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Ladakh, and Tamil Nadu, we are enabling groundwater recharge, improving year-round water availability, and supporting agricultural prosperity,” believes Ganesh.
The scale of impact is significant. Through Project NAYI Umeed, the brand has also harvested over 30.40 billion liters of rainwater and strengthened irrigation across thousands of acres. These interventions are driving economic growth for more than 14,390 farmers, reducing migration, and fostering stronger community participation in water governance. “On World Water Day, we reaffirm our commitment towards community-led water stewardship and ensuring long-term water security for all,” says Ganesh.
Water stewardship is also increasingly being linked to socio-economic outcomes, particularly in rural India.
“On World Water Day 2026, DS Group reaffirms its commitment to responsible water stewardship through its Water Conservation interventions rooted in shared responsibility,” says Prabhakant Jain, General Manager, Sustainability & CSR, DS Group.
These interventions are designed to strengthen local systems. “Implemented across multiple states, the programme strengthens water security through construction of Water Harvesting Structures, renovation of existing structures, groundwater recharge and efficient irrigation systems,” shares Jain.
The impact extends beyond water access. Reliable access to water has revitalised agriculture, increased farm incomes, and reduced distress migration, gradually transforming water-stressed landscapes into resilient ecosystems.
There are also important social dimensions. “Equally significant is the gender impact: improved water availability has eased women’s daily burden and enhanced their participation in farming and community institutions. By integrating water security with livelihoods, which also impacts gender equity, DS Group demonstrates how focused stewardship can address India’s critical water challenges at scale,” adds Jain.
In urban and service sectors, the focus is shifting towards efficiency within built environments and circular systems.
“World Water Day brings into focus the importance of conscious water management, a principle that continues to guide ITC Hotels,” says Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager, ITC Maurya.
This philosophy is embedded into operations. “Rooted in the credo of Responsible Luxury, our approach integrates sustainability into everyday operations, ensuring that water conservation and efficiency remain central to the guest experience,” shares Kidwai.
Across properties, this translates into systems-level interventions. “ITC Mughal, Agra, the first hotel globally to be awarded LEED Zero Water certification, reflects this commitment through systems that capture rainwater and treat it to meet operational requirements. This philosophy continues at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, where a range of eco-conscious initiatives, alongside its LEED Zero Water certification, support efficient and responsible water usage. In parallel, ITC Rajputana, Jaipur, among the earliest in the world to receive this certification from the US Green Building Council, maintains a balance of water consumption,” explains Kidwai.
Circular solutions are also being adopted. Across ITC Hotels, including ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram, initiatives such as Zero Mile Water and SunyaAqua enable the processing and bottling of drinking water within the premises, reducing environmental impact while limiting the use of single-use plastics through sustainable alternatives.
These efforts align with global standards. As LEED Platinum certified buildings, these hotels continue to align with globally recognised standards in design and operations. With a structured approach across processes, sustainability becomes a natural extension of the experience, reflecting a mindful way of operating that looks ahead while staying grounded in responsibility.
Technology is also emerging as a key enabler in managing water more efficiently.
“Water stewardship is no longer a CSR checkbox. It is a business imperative,” says Vibha Tripathi, Founder, Boon.
Through digital tools, companies are gaining greater control over water usage. “At Boon, we believe brands have a responsibility to treat water as the precious resource it is, not merely a utility. Through real-time monitoring via our WaterAI platform and high-efficiency purification systems deployed across 400+ corporate and hospitality properties, we are helping organisations reduce waste, track consumption, and make smarter water decisions at scale,” says Tripathi.
The larger point, she adds, is consistency. “World Water Day is a reminder that the most meaningful impact begins with the choices brands make every single day, not just once a year.”
Even as corporate initiatives scale up, experts point out that managing demand particularly in urban India, will be critical.
“Water is fast emerging as one of the defining challenges for India’s urban future,” says Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association.
The issue, he notes, is not just access but efficiency. “While the country has made significant progress in expanding access to tap water in recent years, the focus must now shift towards how efficiently we use and manage this resource. Increased access also brings increased responsibility.”
A significant portion of water loss happens within buildings. “Today, the impact of water stress is visible across cities from rising dependence on tankers to growing pressure on groundwater reserves. What often goes unnoticed is that a substantial amount of water is lost within buildings due to leakages, inefficient plumbing systems, and outdated fixtures,” shares Arora.
Encouragingly, solutions are emerging. There is a clear shift towards developing water-efficient solutions such as low-flow fixtures, smart monitoring systems, and technologies that enable rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse.
The direction of the conversation is changing. “The conversation is moving from simply increasing supply to managing demand more responsibly. If these solutions are adopted at scale, especially at the building level, they can significantly reduce water wastage and ease the burden on urban water systems. Water security, ultimately, will depend on how collectively we act today,” signs off Arora.
From Resource to Responsibility
What emerges from these efforts is a clear shift from viewing water as a consumable to recognising it as a shared responsibility.
For India Inc, water stewardship is no longer peripheral. It is central and increasingly, non-negotiable.
March 22, 2026, 10:07 IST