Field validation of water replenishment projects of Coca-Cola, India Private Limited

Student name: Ms Sakshi Chawla
Guide: Ms Ranjana Ray Chaudhuri
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Coca-Cola, India Pvt Ltd
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Gopu Tamma Rao

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Abstract: Depletion of freshwater resources is a harsh reality today. The major issues concerning „Water Resources‟ in India are broadly classified as issues related to water quantity (availability) and quality, for use in the domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors. “The condition of particularly the ground water resources has worsened over the past few decades due to the continuous unregulated extraction of water for various purposes.”(Suhag).”Therefore to tackle this alarming problem, artificial aquifer recharge has become the need of the hour to ensure long term sustainability of groundwater resources. Water usage across various sectors in India is rapidly rising.”(Board)

Coca Cola India has been acknowledging the rapidly worsening scenario of global water scarcity and is following practices like recharging the aquifer artificially, conducting the audits of water and energy on regular intervals. It isalso working extensively on reducing the carbon and water footprints. Moreover Coca-Cola India takes up the Source Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) and Source Water Protection Plans (SWPP) for each plant on timed intervals. The aim of Coca Cola India is to achieve the water positive target at the earliest possible. Coca-Cola India has therefore engaged with various non-governmental organizations and is installing the recharge structures of artificially recharging the ground water. Coca-Cola believes in “giving back to the system”. With this philosophy, around a decade ago Coca-Cola India had started their journey of water replenishment along with their bottling partners. Further, Anandana which is a foundation of Coca-Cola India also followed the footsteps of the company and joined hands in the journey of water replenishment. Coca-Cola India till date has achieved 94% in its journey of becoming water positive. Coca-Cola has met its decadal goal early and would shortly acquire a status of 100% water positive in India. Since 2002, Coca-Cola India Private Limited (CCIPL) has been implementing Artificial Aquifer Recharge (AAR)/ Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) programs across India through its Company-owned Bottling Operations (“CBO”), Franchise Bottling Operations (“FBO”) and COPACK Bottling Operations, which are being used for reporting the Water Replenish Potential of India & South West Asia Business Unit (INSWABU) as part of its sustainability report, with the goal of safely returning to communities and nature, an amount of water equivalent to CCIPL‟s water use in the production of all its beverages.

AAR/RWH programs also serve the objective of improving water management techniques of CCIPL sites, and also help in promoting the wise use of water and positive community relations.Golder Associates Consulting India Pvt Ltd. (“Golder”) was retained by CCIPL to conduct a third party Desktop Study with primary focus on the review of design recharge potential based on the secondary data provided by the CCIPL, and a field validation/ verification of a representative set of AAR/ Roof Water Rainwater Harvesting (RRWH) structures as selected by the CCIPL, post completion of Desktop Study.The 376 Projects reviewed included a total of 471 recharge structures which were reviewed.