Turning our commitment into community impact in India

Our brewery in the Mysuru district of Karnataka in southern India is located in an area that gets below average rainfall. Industry and intensive agriculture rely on annual monsoon rains, and the region faces a significant water challenge.

We have teamed up with international NGO WaterAid in a three-year programme to implement sustainable water conservation measures in the district’s Najangud block. On completion, the project is expected to replenish 100% of the brewery’s annual water consumption.

It includes a range of measures designed to protect groundwater resources in the long term: wetland restoration will enhance water storage capacity; stormwater will be used to recharge deep aquifers that also provide a water source for communities; rainwater will be harvested from roofs to provide water for domestic use; and greywater will be treated to reduce the potential for water stagnation, which can cause health issues. 

In addition, we will raise community awareness of the need to conserve water and local people will be introduced to new water efficient technologies, including drip irrigation to help farmers reduce the amount of water they need to grow crops.

The project will support over 34,000 people across five villages in the Mysuru district. Local people will be trained to operate and maintain the infrastructure to make it self-sustaining and embed a sense of ownership in the community.

“Our partnership with Carlsberg India furthers our common goal of ensuring assured availability of water, especially in water stressed regions in India. WaterAid India’s holistic and participatory approach, steered by communities’ collective commitment and action to conserve water and protect water sources through conservation, groundwater recharge measures, greywater management and efficient water use for agriculture will create a more resilient and water-secure future.” 

- VK Madhavan Chief Executive, WaterAid India