Across the globe, two billion people, or one quarter of the world’s population, don’t have access to one of life’s essentials – clean, safe and plentiful drinking water¹. Every year, International Water Day is marked on 22 March to highlight the issue and spur on action.

The problem is acute in Asia, where approximately 30% of the population is facing water scarcity, which can lead to geopolitical tensions around water supply². Much of Asia’s water is unevenly distributed. In some regions, there is too much rainfall in one area, but not enough in another. In other regions, the challenge is that too much water falls in one month, and not enough in others.

India is home to 18% of the world’s people, but they only have access to 4% of the world’s water resources³. Worryingly, population growth means that India has only 1,000 cubic meters of water per capita, a dramatic drop from 3,000-4,000 in 1950⁴. Compounding this is the unique challenge of India’s rainfall – half of the country’s annual rain falls in just 15 days.⁵

Improving water management begins with a clear focus on the biggest water consumers. Globally, these are agricultural use at 59%, municipal and domestic use at 23% and industrial use at 18%⁶.

As investors, it’s our responsibility to own and engage with the companies showing water leadership by minimising the use of water in their operations, or re-using water as much as possible. Our aim is to encourage and invest in the solutions to these enormous challenges. So what are some examples of companies making a difference?

Semiconductors

With ever-growing demand for mobile phones, computers, smart appliances and vehicles, the world will need far more semiconductors, whose manufacturing process requires huge volumes of ultrapure water. In an industry so water-reliant, excellent water management is not just a sustainability positive, but also a competitive advantage. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) now strives to re-use each droplet of water at least 3.5 times over in its factories, and in 2020 it recycled 86.4% of water used, or some 173.0 million metric tonnes of water.

The company plans a 30% reduction in water use per 12-inch equivalent wafer mask layer by 2030⁷. Water conservation and recycling efforts include reclaiming water from air scrubbing systems in cleanrooms and from cooling towers; capturing used ultrapure water; re-using aircon water; recycling rainwater; and channelling water into a renewal plant.

Solar

Although solar power is a key green energy source, keeping solar panels clean requires substantial amounts of water. In water-stressed India, an estimated 3-5 litres of water are required to clean one solar panel, rising to 7.8 litres in the arid areas ideal for solar farms⁸.

As investors, we therefore face the conundrum of investing in companies that are helping to solve climate change, but are also potentially contributing to water stress. And that’s why water is a major engagement point for us. Solar companies have started to use robots to ‘dry clean’ solar panels, using soft brushes and air flow to remove dust, so the panels can absorb maximum sunlight. Azure Power in India aims to adopt this robotic dry cleaning process on all feasible sites by 2023⁹. With robots, the company reported that it has been able to reduce net water consumption from 122 litre per MWh in 2017-18 to 30 litre per MWh currently. It aims for net water neutrality by 2023.

Cement

The cement industry is hugely water hungry, requiring water to cool machinery and equipment, as well as exhaust gases. Water is also used in systems that manage emissions, like wet scrubbers, and for a range of other requirements. The high water usage is becoming a major focal point for the industry and investors. Where cement manufacturers operate in water-scarce areas, this issue is magnified. The challenge for investors is that although cement is an attractive way to invest in a country’s development, given its use in vital infrastructure, cement manufacturing is both carbon and water-intensive.

We have engaged extensively with UltraTech Cement, also in India, around how it manages its water footprint, particularly as some of its facilities are located in water-stressed regions. The company currently gives back nearly four times the water it uses, and has a target of being five times water positive by 2024. The company focuses on water reuse and recycling, and has a zero water-discharge policy. It also builds rainwater harvesting structures to minimise the draw on local water supplies¹⁰.

These companies are making it clear that industry need not be just the source of the problem; it can also provide innovative and sustainable solutions in order to protect and conserve one of our most essential, irreplaceable and precious resources – clean water.

Companies selected for illustrative purposes only to demonstrate the investment management style described herein and not as an investment recommendation or indication of future performance.