Marking the State of Water Stewardship

If no one leads on water, the world will run dry. Under current conditions, the World Resources Institute projects that our planet faces a 56% water deficit by 20301. The lasting effects of water stress impact the communities where we work and thrive, compelling businesses, governments and individuals alike to take urgent action. As a global leader in water, Ecolab releases the Ecolab Watermark Study every year to learn where and how to protect this finite resource. By understanding the views and needs of the general population, Ecolab builds the business case for positive change towards a water-secure future.


Key Insights From 2024

Access to clean and safe water remains a significant climate concern for consumers around the world. Governments and businesses continue to be seen as primarily responsible for water conservation, but consumers in some regions do not believe these leaders care enough about water or climate changes. The agricultural, food and beverage, and manufacturing industries are perceived as the most responsible for water use and conservation. Meanwhile, consumers continue to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability through their purchasing habits.


Percentage of consumers that list clean and safe water as a significant environmental concern.2

Map of LA

Latin America

90%
Map of China Mainland

China*

88%
Map of US

United States

80%
Map of IMEA

IMEA

74%
Map of EU

Europe

72%
Map of AP

Asia Pacific

65%

Percentage of consumers that believe governments and businesses have made significant progress towards their climate and sustainability goals.3

Map of China Mainland

China*

88%
Government

86%
Manufacturer/
Businesses

Map of IMEA

IMEA

80%
Government

73%
Manufacturer/
Businesses

Map of LA

Latin America

58%
Government

58%
Manufacturer/
Businesses

Map of AP

Asia Pacific

49%
Government

52%
Manufacturer/
Businesses

Map of US

United States

41%
Government

40%
Manufacturer/
Businesses

Map of EU

Europe

32%
Government

35%
Manufacturer/
Businesses


Percentage of consumers that see the agriculture, food and beverage and manufacturing industries as most responsible for water conservation.4

Map of EU

Europe

39%
Agriculture

32%
Food and Beverage

32%
Manufacturing

Map of US

United States

38%
Agriculture

32%
Food and Beverage

30%
Manufacturing

Map of IMEA

IMEA

38%
Agriculture

31%
Food and Beverage

31%
Manufacturing

Map of LA

Latin America

36%
Agriculture

39%
Food and Beverage

23%
Manufacturing

Map of AP

Asia Pacific

30%
Agriculture

33%
Food and Beverage

38%
Manufacturing

Map of China Mainland

China*

22%
Agriculture

32%
Food and Beverage

39%
Manufacturing


Percentage of consumers who have stopped using/purchasing products because of how much water it takes to manufacture them.5

Purchasing Behavior_China Mainland

China*

80%
Purchasing Behavior_IMEA

IMEA

69%
Purchasing Behavior_Latin America

Latin America

65%
Purchasing Behavior_Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific

41%
Purchasing Behavior_Europe

Europe

39%
Purchasing Behavior_US

United States

33%

Advancing Water Stewardship

For over 100 years, Ecolab has worked to protect the resources vital to life by prioritizing water stewardship in our own operations and those of our customers. Across more than 40 industries worldwide, Ecolab helps businesses respond to climate and water challenges by minimizing their water use in critical processes. We help our customers drive lasting impact and achieve an exponential return on investment (eROI) by aligning climate, water, and business growth goals.

Our Expertise

Interested in water stewardship? Explore the following articles for news and trends related to water:

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Our Solutions

With more than one trillion gallons of water managed annually, Ecolab combines Connected Chemistry™
with digital insights and industry expertise to drive sustainability and growth in tandem.
Learn more about how Ecolab can help you take a smart water management approach in your operations.

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Identify Opportunities with the Smart Water Navigator

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Take an Enterprise Approach with Ecolab Water for Climate™

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Manage Water Performance with 3D TRASAR™ Technology

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Visualize Insights with ECOLAB3D™ Digital Services

Our Projects

When you address water resiliency, business can thrive. The following case studies highlight how Ecolab helps deliver a positive impact on our customers’ business, water and climate goals:

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  1. WRI Achieving Abundance working paper 2020: files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/achieving-abundance
  2. Based on top-two box scoring of “very / somewhat concerned”
  3. Based on top-two box scoring of “Strongly agree/Somewhat agree”
  4. Based on top three options selected
  5. Based on top-two box scoring of “Very concerned /Somewhat concerned”

*China research does not include Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan.