Industrial water footprints need to be reduced

Although many companies are aware of their carbon footprint, not many have taken into consideration their water footprint. An estimated 1 billion people, as many as one in eight, do not have access to clean water, yet many companies are doing nothing to limit the amount of water they use on a day-to-day basis. The demand for clean water is growing with the population whilst climate change reduces the amount available; demand is outstripping supply.

The Secretary General of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Lasse Gustavsson, explains that "the water footprint is the total amount of water consumed in developing a product or that a company, country or individual uses" and that "for instance, to grow cotton for a T-shirt, 4,100 litres (1,100 gallons) of water are used." Clearly it is important that the water footprint of companies is lessened and more economical ways of operating are worked upon.

"By 2020, increasing population and household growth will mean the total demand for water is likely to be around 5% higher than today – to meet that demand we would need an extra 800 million litres of water per day!" claims the Act on CO2 site. If this is the case measuring water footprints could become as significant as measuring carbon footprints for industrial energy users.

Gustavsson points out that "it will just become more and more important for companies to understand their water footprint and work actively to reduce it," A standard methodology for calculating water consumption will help enable its sustainable usage. Work on a global standard with a philosophy, requirements and directions for calculating water footprints has been started by The International Organization for Standardization's Technical Committee for Environmental Management.

It is vital that industries take a responsible approach towards sustainable water use and conservation. Companies such as Borealis with their 'Water for the World Programme' and Tennant who produce industrial cleaning products that aim to create a cleaner, healthier world are two companies that are concerned about water management and are therefore working towards an improved water footprint. There are numerous inputs, geographies and processes that affect the calculation of a water footprint and working these out will be essential to account for sustainable water management. Hopefully companies such as Borealis and Tennant will help other industry players to take into consideration the amount of water they consume.

It is evident that it won't be long before the water footprint becomes just as important as the carbon footprint in environmental work. When it is taken into consideration that in some areas people have to walk four miles to get water and 4000 children die each year from water related diseases, when it takes 16000 litres of water to produce 1kg of beef, it becomes clear that something needs to be done to alleviate the situation. The impact of industry's water footprint is definitely going to come into the limelight before long. It is essential that businesses start to manage their water usage as it is clearly as important as reducing carbon emissions.

 

Author: Rachael Bristow | Climate Action

Image: VinothChandar(AWAY) | Flickr