Design Delight Studio

You asked, we answered: How does cotton water consumption in India shape environmental realities?
We care—just like you—about sustainable choices and the water behind your clothes. Here is your simple guide to this key issue.

🔍 Water Use: Cotton’s Hidden Thirst

• Fact: In India, making 1 kg of cotton uses around 22,500 litres of water. This rate is more than twice the global average of 10,000 litres per kg. (Source: Water Footprint Network via The Guardian)

• Insight: In 2013, India’s cotton exports consumed 38 billion cubic metres of virtual water. That water could serve 85% of India’s 1.24 billion people every day for a year. (The Guardian)

• Regional Reality: Farms in Maharashtra draw vast groundwater. Some districts pull over 90% of their local reserves each year. This overuse depletes water. (Mongabay India)

• Government Policy: Subsidies for electric pumps in dry zones push unregulated water drawing. Here, little cost stops unsustainable use. (The Guardian)

• Expert Quote:
   “Growing and producing in the right place can cut India’s water use,” says Arjen Hoekstra, professor of water management, University of Twente. (The Guardian)

🚩 Highlight Box:
 India’s cotton water footprint stands at 22,500 litres/kg versus 8,000 litres/kg in the US
 — Water Footprint Network / The Guardian

• Expert Tips to Reduce Cotton Water Use in India:
 – Support cotton grown in humid, naturally rainy regions instead of dry, arid zones.
 – Use efficient irrigation like drip and sprinkler systems.
 – Boost organic cotton, which uses less water and fewer chemicals (just 2% of India’s cotton today).
 – Push for water rationing and stronger groundwater rules.
 – Promote local rainwater harvesting and watershed projects.

🔍 Chemical Inputs: Cotton and Toxicity Link

• Around 50% of India’s pesticides go to cotton, which pollutes water and harms reuse and aquatic life. (The Guardian)

• Organic cotton—practiced by many across the world, including in India—uses fewer pesticides. This method helps save water. (The Guardian & Better Cotton)

• The Better Cotton Initiative trains farmers to lower chemical use through smarter pest management. (Better Cotton)

• Chemical Use Mitigation Tips:
 – Teach integrated pest management and non-chemical methods to farmers.
 – Expand organic cotton through incentives and better market access.
 – Use soil care practices like mulching and intercropping.
 – Watch pesticide use closely to protect water quality.
 – Support supply chains that choose sustainable cotton.

🔍 Recycling and Water Stewardship Efforts

• The Better Cotton Initiative in India now works with over 2 million farmers. They train on water care, map watersheds, promote drip systems, and build water recharge measures. (Better Cotton)

• Farmers now desilt dams and create ponds. They plan crops with water seasons in mind. (Better Cotton)

• Saleena Pookunju, Senior Manager, sees water care as a whole plan that saves natural resources and builds climate strength. (Better Cotton)

🚩 Highlight Box:
 Only 27% of Better Cotton farms in India rely solely on rain; most use mixed irrigation.
 — Better Cotton, 2023

• Proactive Water Stewardship Actions for Cotton Communities:
 – Build and keep water storage like ponds and check dams.
 – Use micro-irrigation to save water drop by drop.
 – Work regionally to manage watersheds together.
 – Choose crops wisely based on real-time water availability.
 – Invest in farmer learning for climate-smart agriculture.

❓ FAQ

Q: Is cotton farming the biggest cause of water scarcity in India?
A: Cotton is a big part of groundwater loss and high water use. This is especially true in dry areas like Maharashtra. Still, other crops and industries add to the problem. Better cotton practices can greatly cut water use. (Sources: The Guardian, Mongabay India, Better Cotton)

Discover more on how cotton’s water story meets your sustainable choices. Find our full resource here:
👉 Environmental Impact of Cotton: Your Questions Answered

Sources & Attribution:

• Leahy S., “World Water Day: the cost of cotton in water-challenged India,” The Guardian, 2015 [https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/20/world-water-day-cotton-water-challenged-india]
• Better Cotton, “Better Cotton in India: Addressing Water Woes,” 2023 [https://bettercotton.org/blog/better-cotton-in-india-addressing-water-woes/]
• Vandana K., “India’s cotton exports could threaten Maharashtra’s groundwater,” Mongabay India, 2025 [https://india.mongabay.com/2025/05/indias-cotton-exports-threaten-maharashtras-groundwater/]
• Arjen Hoekstra, University of Twente, water footprint expert (quoted in The Guardian)

We hope this clear guide helps you make sustainable choices. Thank you for caring about cotton’s water story!

Design Delight Studio is your trusted partner in sustainable textiles, committed to transparency and eco-innovation. Learn more at designdelightstudio.myshopify.com