NEW DELHI (India CSR): Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, spearheaded by public and private sector enterprises in India, are playing a crucial role in driving sustainable water management practices through a host of initiatives such as access to clean drinking water, lake rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, and rainwater harvesting, according to a new research by SoulAce, India’s leading CSR consulting, monitoring and evaluation firm.

The report – The Impact of CSR Initiatives on India’s Water Security – is a result of over 100 impact assessment studies conducted in FY 2023-24 of CSR programs being implemented across diverse geographic settings such as:

Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: In these areas, the focus is on technologies such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting to maximize limited water resources.
Rural Agricultural Zones: Emphasis is placed on community-based water management practices and the integration of IoT technologies for irrigation.
Urban and Peri-Urban Areas: Initiatives focus on waste-water recycling and efficient water use of technology to reduce strain on municipal water supplies.
Flood-prone Areas: Programs here aim to improve water retention and storage to mitigate the impact of flooding and enhance agricultural productivity.
Coastal Areas: Programs often address salinity management and the efficient use of freshwater resources in agriculture.

“Water sustainability is not just an environmental priority. It’s a business imperative for organizations globally. As business goals become more aligned with CSR and ESG, water security has emerged as a top priority for long-term growth and sustainable community development. By investing in water conservation initiatives, companies protect this vital resource, drive innovation, reduce risk, and create lasting value for society and shareholders. CSR is playing an important role in helping India meet its commitment to SDG 6 while complementing the government’s efforts,” says Adarsh Kataruka, Managing Director, SoulAce.

The study also highlights that businesses are actively collaborating with key stakeholders such as gram panchayats and municipalities, government departments, NGOs, and technology solution providers to enhance the reach and impact of their CSR initiatives.

Drawing extensively from case stories and impact assessment data of CSR projects being implemented across the country, some of the findings from the report are as follows:

Drinking Water Programs: Key Impact Indicators

50 – 60 percent reduction in contaminants such as fluoride, arsenic, and bacteria in treated water.
100 percent of the population in the intervention areas can access purified water through RO plants and water purification units.
50 – 60 percent reduction in water-related diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, and typhoid, due to access to safe drinking water through Water ATMs, water supply from RO plants, and fluoride filters.
30 percent of households are involved in maintenance and monitoring of community assets created.

Watershed Conservation: Key Impact Indicators

20 – 35 percent increase in water storage capacity, achieved through the construction of farm ponds and percolation tanks.
30 Litres of increased water availability per person per week led to enhanced hygiene, convenience, and the ability to perform household chores more effectively.
5 – 6 feet of average increase in groundwater levels have been attributed to the recharge wells and other harvesting structures.

Urban Water Security Through Lake Restoration: Key Impact Indicators

3 – 5 feet ofmeasurable increase in groundwater levels annually was facilitated by enhanced infiltration from the restored lake.
30 – 50 percent reduction in cases of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, due to improved water quality and reduced pollution.
20 – 30 percent increase in community use of lakeside recreational areas, reflecting enhanced aesthetic value and improved public access.

Livelihood Diversification

The SoulAce study also focused on CSR programs aimed at livelihood diversification that provided alternatives to water-intensive farming, enhanced food security, and built resilience to crop failures due to water scarcity.

“These initiatives focused on diversifying livelihoods by integrating water-efficient practices into farming systems. By promoting sustainable water management through activities like agroforestry, horticulture, aquaculture, and livestock rearing, these programs helped communities diversify their income sources, reduce dependency on traditional farming, and strengthen overall livelihood security in the face of climate change,” the report says while discussing a case story from a tribal village in Udaipur,

Gaps in CSR Programs in Water Security

While the corporate sector is doing incredible work in the area of water conservation and management, there are still some gaps that need to be addressed.

The Need for Long-term Interventions: Many Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs in water security tend to prioritize short-term projects, such as one-time clean-up drives or temporary water access solutions. While these initiatives do help the community, they often fail to address the root causes of water insecurity. Sustainable water management requires long-term interventions, including watershed restoration, infrastructure improvements, institution of sustainable water use practices, and building community-based water governance systems.

Lack of Collaboration between Stakeholders: To address the critical challenge of water security, corporate India will have to collaborate with each other to complement the efforts being made through CSR. Many companies develop CSR initiatives in isolation, without partnering with other businesses, local communities, or governments. This fragmented approach results in duplication of efforts and limits the scale and impact of these efforts.

Water Security Data Mapping: Understanding regional water availability, risks and sustainability challenges requires real-time data mining and sharing with all stakeholders. However, much of this data is often not publicly accessible, creating a significant gap in addressing water-related issues. This hinders informed decision-making by policymakers, CSR professionals, local governments and non-governmental organizations. Open access of water security data would be in the best interest of communities and organizations that work closely with them.

(India CSR)