GS Paper II
News Excerpt:
Bisleri, a leading packaged water maker in India, is pioneering the concept of water credits, analogous to carbon credits, to promote accountability in water usage within the beverage industry.
More about the news: The initiative aims to encourage sustainable water management practices by establishing a market-based mechanism for water conservation credits.
About the study:
- The company has partnered with TERI School of Advanced Studies to conduct a study that would set a benchmark for the beverage industry's commitment to water conservation.
- The study assumes significance given that several large beverage makers have been criticized for extracting water from water stressed areas.
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Bisleri will share its findings with the central government to facilitate discussions and develop a framework, advancing the concept of water credits for the beverages industry.
What is water credit?
- It is an initiative of water.org to provide affordable financing for safe water and sanitation.
- It first launched Water Credit in India in 2004, through a partnership with the Indian NGO Gramalaya.
- Currently, Water Credit has scaled to reach more than 8.5 million people through 1.7 million loans.
- It provides the water sector to generate green credits through water conservation, water harvesting, and water use efficiency, including treatment and reuse of wastewater.
Benefits and Challenges
- Benefits:
- Enhanced Sustainability: By adopting water-efficient practices, companies can reduce their water footprint, contributing to environmental conservation.
- Regulatory and Reputational Advantage: Efficient water use can reduce regulatory risks and enhance the company's reputation.
- International Acceptance: Products from companies that follow sustainable practices may gain better acceptance in international markets.
- Challenges:
- Implementation Complexity: Establishing a baseline water footprint for the industry can be challenging due to the varying scales and technological capabilities of different water units.
- Validation of Claims: Ensuring the long-term validity of water conservation claims is difficult, particularly for smaller units that may lack advanced technology.
- Regulatory Overlap: Existing national and state-level regulations already govern groundwater usage, which could complicate the integration of a new water credit system.
Way forward:
- Prevent water scarcity: According to data from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based think tank In India, 11 out 15 major river basins will be water-stressed by 2025, with per-capita annual water availability below 1,700 cubic meters. By focusing on water conservation, harvesting, and efficiency, beverage companies can actively contribute to addressing water scarcity issues in local communities.
- Embrace Accountability: It's high time the beverage industry steps up and takes responsibility for its significant water usage. Bisleri's proposal for a water credit system is a step in the right direction. However, beverage companies should fully embrace this concept and actively work towards implementing it across the board as it will ensure sustainability and ensure future generations have access to clean water.
- Regulatory Enforcement: It's imperative for governments to step in and enforce regulations that hold beverage companies accountable for their water usage. This includes setting strict limits on extraction from water-stressed areas and imposing penalties for non-compliance.
Conclusion:
Bisleri's proposal to introduce water credits represents a significant step towards sustainable water management in the beverage industry. By promoting efficient water use and conservation practices, the initiative could help mitigate water scarcity issues and set a precedent for other industries. However, the success of this initiative will depend on the development of a robust framework and the effective integration of existing regulations with the proposed water credit system.
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Green Credit Program:
About the program:
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