Water security challenges, and solutions – a global photo gallery

A farmer in Neemrana, Rajasthan tends to his crop. Despite the lush appearance, Rajasthan is one of India’s driest states. Photograph: SABMiller

Farmers draw water from an underground aquifer to irrigate their crops, but extraction for agriculture, industry and everyday use has led to a significant drop in the aquifer level. SABMiller India and the Confederation of Indian Industry are working together to protect the local water source and improve the water supply. Photograph: Ed Robinson/SABMiller

Many communities in Rajasthan get their water from a standpipe in the local village. The water comes from the same aquifer used by the farmers. If the level of the aquifer drops too low, then people may not have access to safe drinking water. Photograph: SABMiller India 2010

Farmers in Neemrana are offered subsidies for growing more water-efficient crops or implementing water-efficient methods of irrigation. Many of these plants, such as okra and millet also deliver higher incomes for the farmers. Photograph: Ed Robinson/SABMiller

To protect the water supply for local communities, farmers and its business, SABMiller India has undertaken a natural aquifer recharge project. The project involved the construction of three dams in an area that was previously a wasteland. This facilitates natural recharge of the aquifers and to date, local groundwater levels have risen by over 18 meters as a result. Photograph: Ed Robinson/SABMiller

A farmer washes a household utensil at a community tap. By safeguarding the local groundwater supply, SABMiller India is helping to provide clean water for drinking and every day use, as well as for agriculture. In Rajasthan, brewing more beer using less water is crucial for both the long term development of SABMiller and the health of local communities. Photograph: SABMiller

In Zambia, SABMiller is working with the local government to help farmers grow Sorghum, a cereal which is more resistant to drought. Employing new agricultural techniques can produce a higher quality of grain with a larger yield that ultimately increases farmers’ income. Sorghum is a vital ingredient for SABMiller’s locally-produced beer, Eagle Lager. Photograph: SABMiller plc/SABMiller plc

Many people that live in the sprawling urban environments of Lima, Peru, do not have access to clean water. Trucks such as this one transport drinking water to areas without a regular supply, but it is an expensive process. Photograph: SABMiller

One of the greatest challenges facing Lima is that water is not appropriately valued. Here precious clean water is being used to wash a cargo of stones. SABMiller’s Peruvian subsidiary, Backus, is a founding partner in Aquafondo, which was established by The Nature Conservancy. The project helps to fund water protection projects in Lima. A key aim of Aquafondo is to change people’s attitudes towards water use, by raising awareness of its importance. Photograph: SABMiller

For many rural Ugandans, a lack of access to clean water is a fact of everyday life. Nile Breweries, a subsidiary of SABMiller, has provided eleven boreholes to help 3,300 villagers extract clean drinking water from groundwater sources. This has drastically reduced their risk of falling ill to water-borne diseases, helping to deliver a better quality of life for local villagers. Photograph: SABMiller