Indicates whether the organization employs management practices to protect water quality.
Organizations should footnote the specific details of their water quality practices.
This metric is intended to capture whether the organization employs practices to protect the quality of the water it uses. Organizations wishing to report strategies to reduce the quantity of water used should report Water Conservation Strategy (OI9326).
Organizations should footnote practices employed on, for example, agricultural land over which they have direct control. See glossary definition of directly controlled (land area) for more information. Organizations can report this metric in conjunction with Land Directly Controlled: Total (OI5408) and related submetrics.
Examples of water quality practices, to footnote, include the creation of buffer zones (particularly for native species); responsible management of manure, sewage, and fertilizer; and water-quality assessment.
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revisions to definition and usage guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
No change.
May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
Immaterial change. Metric name modified to improve accuracy. Minor revision to definition language to align consistency of metric with catalog's structure and style.
March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Material change. Metric definition and response format modified to provide clarity based on best practices and standard guidance.
November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
No change.
February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
No change.
September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
New metric. Water Management (OI7365) was developed via the Environment, Energy & Water Working Group.
IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets
To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).