Water Conservation Strategy (OI9326)

This metric is intended to capture detailed information on the organization’s water conservation strategy in place but does not evaluate the success with which that strategy is implemented.

Water conservation encompasses efforts made to reduce the amount of water needed to execute current processes or tasks. This metric is not intended to capture overall reduced water consumption due to reduced organizational activities (e.g., partial outsourcing of production).

Details of water conservation efforts to footnote include organizational or technological innovations that allow a defined process or task to consume water more efficiently. These may include improved water-management practices, process redesign, the conversion and retrofitting of equipment (e.g., water-efficient equipment), or the elimination of unnecessary water use through changes in behavior. Organizations’ water-reduction strategies could also include seeking alternative water sources such as gray water or rainwater capture systems. Organizations should footnote which efforts are components of their strategy.

Mismanagement of water can pose risks to operational elements including brand, credibility, credit rating, insurance, and operating costs. Organizations should footnote their analysis of such risks and how they are being addressed.

Organizations are encouraged to report the amount of water conserved using Water Conserved (OI4015) and Water Used: Total (OI1697), plus its related submetrics.