Environmental Performance

Water Management

Ensuring lower specific freshwater intake through water conservation measures

Sustained efforts to ensure zero effluent discharge by treating and recycling waste water

Integrated Watershed Management Programmes and on-site rain water harvesting

Water Positive for 11 years in a row

Water remains a serious concern across the world. With climate change aggravating the problem of water availability, India is confronted with a difficult and turbulent future arising out of severe water stress.

Today, India’s snow-fed rivers, such as the Ganga and Brahmaputra, are facing serious supply threats as a result of the glacial melt. Added to this, is the direct threat of reduced agricultural output due to disruption in monsoon patterns. Agriculture accounts for around 90% of the total water consumption in India. The challenges posed by water scarcity are aggravated by the huge inequalities in geographical distribution as well as by the short duration of the monsoons — wherein the entire rainfall happens over a brief period of around 12 weeks in a year.

Given these challenges, ITC is committed to conserve and manage this precious natural resource. ITC’s approach to Water Management is as follows:

1. Water Conservation

Conducting water audits, benchmarking and implementation of best practices to achieve the lowest possible specific freshwater intake (water per unit of product/service).

2. Zero Effluent Discharge

Treating and progressing towards achieving recycling of all wastewater within premises.

3. Water Positive Footprint

Enhancing our water positive footprint through rainwater harvesting, both within our own Units and across different watershed areas.