Water

For many years, we have demonstrated our commitment to water issues primarily through our own operations, focusing on water efficiency, effluent quality and water reuse.

In the APA region, Ford India achieved a 45 percent year-on-year reduction in water usage per vehicle in 2011 through a range of water-conservation initiatives. New facilities in China are using advanced ultra-filtration water treatment technologies that enable improved treatment and reuse of the wastewater in the facility. These technologies also significantly reduce the use of chemicals, the generation of solid waste, the use of water and water discharge volumes. Read more about our water investments in Chennai, India, in the zero water discharge case study.

We also are committed to moving beyond our own fences to address water issues within our communities of operation. We are working with stakeholders to better understand issues around water accessibility and sanitation in water-stressed communities especially. We’re investing in community water stewardship projects in India, with plans to make similar investments in China, South Africa and elsewhere. One area where we are focusing is schools. Ford India, for example, helped refurbish two schools in villages near its Maraimalai Nagar plant, a suburb of the southern city of Chennai. The refurbishment included new sanitation facilities and drinking water fountains.

We are committed to mobilizing opportunities for communities in the developing world through clean water. We have joined the Global Water Challenge (GWC), a coalition of leading organizations committed to achieving universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Through the GWC, Ford and others are funding water and sanitation programs in Africa. The GWC is also launching a “Women for Water” campaign to address critical water needs. In the developing world, the burden of collecting water falls primarily upon women and girls, who often must spend several hours a day carrying water.

For a discussion of our global commitment to water issues, please see the Water section.