Corporations need to reduce water consumption, but they also need to be concerned about making money, protecting their position in the marketplace, being aware of operational risks as they embrace sustainability. A baseline position needs to be assessed, creating a water footprint. Water represents risk to a company in many different ways, which must be understood and these factors must be compiled into a workable plan.
Taking a leaf from the greenhouse gas protocol book, we should understand that the three different categories of carbon emissions can be applied to water. The emissions are generated when energy is produced, indirectly when it is consumed and in relation to its provision, either downstream or upstream. Companies need to understand how water is used in the supply chain and during disposal.
When composing the water footprint, understand how the resource may be used to make available raw materials or goods which are introduced to the production line by suppliers. This could be in the “work in progress” production phase or during transportation and the company needs to take responsibility for the fact that this happens. While it may well be beyond the borders of the organization, the fact is that the company’s demand for the supplier’s product is the cause of this water usage.
Fundamentally, in the production stage, water used should be from a renewable source, where at all possible. Water is likely to be as volatile a political subject as carbon emissions in the future. Consider how consumers and stakeholders will became increasingly aware that we are all seeking to procure it from the same resource.
Whenever water is used in a commercial or industrial process, questions will arise about the efficient manner in which it is used. These questions will linger after the product is actually used as well, as water runoff and discharge can also lead to pollution concerns. All efforts should be made to recycle.
Water use must be restricted as much as possible, if the risks associated with its use are to be managed. Just think of the possible risk factors which could place a premium on available water. A certain locality could undergo significant weather conditions, causing a temporary drought. Arising market conditions in another area could lead to energy fluctuations, pulling water for energy generation in that area.
Water related risks can change significantly depending on the geographical location of a company facility. Therefore, for distributed organizations, an assessment of such risks must take in to account regional disparities, local political positions and attitudes.
The corporate approach must be modified to reduce water consumption from a global perspective. Essentially, we have not increased our water efficiency over the last couple of decades, choosing to place most emphasis on energy efficiency and carbon emissions. Sustainability is multifaceted and cannot be polarized.
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