The Noyyal and the Bhavani are urbanising sub-basins of the larger Cauvery river basin in South India. The Noyyal consists of two large industrial cities — Coimbatore and Tiruppur. The Bhavani includes primarily ecologically-sensitive forest areas and agricultural lands. The subbasins are drained by the rivers Noyyal, Bhavani and Moyar. This river basin is economically important as it houses clusters of textile industrial units that cater to both the domestic and global market, earning significant revenue for the state. At the same time, the basin faces severe water-related challenges. This report contributes to Pacific Institute’s ongoing programme towards catalysing corporate water stewardship. The report is based on a pilot study in the NoyyalBhavani river basin. There are multiple water-related challenges within the basin. There are also opportunities to address some of them through the collective action of the basinwater users. This report maps the key basin water challenges around six themes: a) access to WASH, b) water quantity, c) water quality, d) water-ecosystem impacts, e) water-crisis-preparedness, and f) water governance. Basin context metrics are defined to characterise the water challenges in the basin. Industrial pollution within the basin has been a persistent problem with adverse implications on human health, livelihoods and ecosystems. Recent interventions such as the Zero Liquid Discharge standard for textile dyeing and bleaching facilities within the basin have attempted to address the problem; the effectiveness and impacts of which requires further assessment. Pollution of surface-water and groundwater from inadequately-treated sewage and poor on-site sanitation systems respectively is yet to be effectively addressed. Domestic water provisioning in the basin requires greater attention towards ensuring equitable distribution and improved access, especially for marginalised groups such as slums in urban settlements. There is a data gap on the status of WASH access in the commercial/industrial sector. Groundwater regulation is weak with enforcement challenges on-ground. Approximately 45% of groundwater blocks in the basin are classified as being ‘overexploited’. Groundwater depletion coupled with incidences of droughts adversely affects the basin water security. There is a need for integrated basin-level thinking and planning for improved water resource management and fair water allocations to different sectors. Water governance is fragmented due to which groundwater–surface-water linkages are not well recognised. There is a need for infrastructure planning that integrates water and wastewater. Environmental flows in the R. Bhavani are affected by numerous hydro-power dams in the upper reaches as well as diversions for meeting domestic, irrigation and industrial water demands of large parts of both the sub-basins. The report includes recommendations and opportunities to address some of the critical shared water challenges related to water quantity, water quality and governance in the basin.