Ecolab partners with Water.org to build community, equitable access to freshwater in India

US-based Ecolab Inc, a global leader in water treatment & purification has announced a partnership with Water.org to help enable access to sustainable water and improved sanitation in at-risk watersheds in India.

The Water.org partnership will contribute to Ecolab’s recently announced 2030 Impact Goals, which include having a positive water impact in at-risk watersheds where Ecolab operates. 

Ecolab is also a co-founding member of the Water Resilience Coalition, an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, which calls for industry leaders to set similar goals.

“Our work with the Water Resilience Coalition ultimately focuses on improving the availability, quality and accessibility of water for all,” said Ecolab’s vice president of water partnerships Meredith Englund.

“This partnership with Water.org is one tangible way we are taking action to help build community and economic resilience and equitable access to freshwater.”

Ecolab’s contribution to Water.org aims to enable access to sustainable drinking water and improved sanitation for 100,000 people living in poverty in India, while contributing more than 26.4 million gallons of water per year to watershed health in extremely high-stress river basins in which Ecolab operates, including Chennai, Mumbai, Konnagar, Delhi, Baroda, Jamshedpur, Kolkata and Pune.

According to reports, one in nine people around the world currently lack access to clean water. Against a backdrop of climate change, economic recessions and public health crises, the need for access to clean and safe water has become crucial.

Water.org, a social organisation co-founded by Hollywood star Matt Damon and Gary White, leverages a scalable, microfinance-based model that has mobilized billions in capital to support small loans that bring access to safe water and sanitation to millions of people in need. 

“Access to clean water and sanitation is still not a reality for hundreds of millions of people in India,” said Ecolab’s senior vice president (India, Middle East & Africa markets) Vishal Sharma.

“The need is immense across the country. It’s important for us to play a role driving water and sanitation solutions not only for industry but in the surrounding communities to ensure greater water resilience for India”, said Sharma.

The companies said the partnership would have three main objectives. Firstly, as part of social responsibility, it would support communities, families and workers living in areas where Ecolab operates in India. Secondly, under accessibility, it would provide equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene solutions to people living in poverty. Lastly, under quantity, it would enable positive recurring water benefits in high-stress basins and watersheds.

“Access to safe water and sanitation is critical to the health and well-being of families around the world,” said Water.org president Jennifer Schorsch. 

“Ecolab’s partnership comes at a time when health and hygiene are top-of-mind and their support will provide lasting solutions to build more resilient communities in India.”