Volume of water used for the organization's operations during the reporting period.
Water Consumed: Total (OI1697)
Calculation:
- Reporting Format Unit of Measure (PD1602)
- Metric Type Metric
- Metric Level Organization
- IRIS Metric Citation IRIS, 2021. Producer Price Premium (PI1568). v5.2.
Footnote
Organizations should footnote all assumptions used.
Usage Guidance
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This metric is intended to capture the volume of water used within the organization for any purpose, including but not limited to productive processes (for example, packaging and manufacturing), human consumption, and agricultural purposes.
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This metric, as well as other metrics calculated using Water Withdrawn (OI0263) and Water Discharged (OI0386), can be used in conjunction with Water Type (OD7536) to describe water consumption in more detail.
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For further guidance on water uses, see the Alliance for Water Efficiency (http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org).
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In some contexts, this metric can serve as an indicator of whether the outcome being sought by an investor or organization is occurring (the WHAT dimension of impact). For more on the alignment of IRIS metrics to the five dimensions of impact, see IRIS+ and the Five Dimensions of Impact (https://iris.thegiin.org/document/iris-and-the-five-dimensions/). No single metric is sufficient to understand an impact; rather, metrics are selected as a set across all dimensions of impact. When possible, the selection of metrics to measure and describe the five dimensions should be based on best practice and evidence.
Related metrics
This metric has 7 related submetrics.
Impact Categories & Themes
SDG Goals & Targets
Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG Target 6.3
- SDG Target 6.4
Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG Target 8.4
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG Target 9.4
Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG Target 11.6
Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG Target 12.2
- SDG Target 12.4
- SDG Target 12.6
Joint Impact Indicators (JII)
Water Consumed: Total (OI1697) is required for Joint Impact Indicator: Water Consumption.
JII definition: Amount of water consumed during the reporting period, measured in cubic meters. This may include water that has been sourced from surface or groundwater resources and is either evaporated, incorporated into a product or taken from one body of water and returned to another, or returned at a different time. Water consumption could be reported annually or daily and can be used to measure reduction in water losses, water consumption of economic activities, and/or as an input to calculate water resource efficiency compared against different industry standards (e.g. per unit of output).
JII unit of measurement: m3 (water)
Metric History
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June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revision to usage guidance for clarity.
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January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
Immaterial change. Edited metric name, formula, and usage guidance to clarify and link to underlying IRIS+ metrics.
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May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
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March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to metric name and definition language for clarity.
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March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to metric name and definition language for clarity.
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November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
No change.
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February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
No change.
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September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
Immaterial change. IRIS ID changed do to framework upgrade. Minor revision to definition language for clarity.
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September 2009 - IRIS v1.0 Released
New metric. Water Use (OEN40) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.