Becoming Water Positive
Meeting water goals and targets is often achieved through implementing projects that address shared water challenges at a business’s own facility locations, and also through working with stakeholder groups to develop projects within the larger water basin that address shared water challenges.
Companies with water positive pledges typically commit to reintroducing – or replenishing – more water into the water-stressed regions in which they operate than they withdraw. These companies will identify areas in their operations where water stress is an issue through a risk assessment, look for ways to reduce their water use in these water stressed areas through water efficiency and innovation, and then work with stakeholder groups to finance water resource management actions or environmental restoration projects that brings additional water into the water-stressed basin.
If a company brings in enough additional water to a water-stressed basin that is greater than the amount of water they use in that basin, they are water positive for that basin.
Water Efficiency & Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Certification
Companies that have identified facilities in water-stressed areas must first look for opportunities to facilitate water stewardship at these locations. The Alliance for Water Stewardship provides a framework and certification system for demonstrating that a site has met the global benchmark for responsible water stewardship.
Sites that have implemented the AWS Standard and are AWS Certified have taken actions to understand their water use, engage with key stakeholders within their water basin, and create site-specific strategic plans that address unique internal and external water-related risks.
Anthesis has credentialed AWS specialists that can guide clients through their AWS certification journey.
Volumetric Water Benefits
Volumetric water benefits (VWBs) are the volume of water resulting from water stewardship activities, relative to a unit of time, that modify the hydrology in a beneficial way and/or help reduce shared water challenges, improve water stewardship outcomes, and meet the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Using the VMBA Method to Calculate & Communicate Water Stewardship Activity Benefits
Volumetric water benefit accounting (VWBA) provides a standardized approach and set of indicators to estimate and communicate the volumetric water benefits of water stewardship activities. This takes into account a range of water stewardship activities, from implementing measures taken during AWS certification at the site level, to working with stakeholders at the basin level to address shared water challenges. It provides a credible methodology to measure and communicate the water benefits of water stewardship activities and progress towards water goals and targets.
| Identify Shared Water Challenges and Understand Local Context | Define Water Stewardship Project Activities and Partners | Gather Data and Calculate Volumetric Water Benefits |
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Building on water footprinting and water accounting, water risk assessments, and Water Goal and Target Setting services, Anthesis helps businesses implement water stewardship activities that meet water goals and targets.
The Anthesis Approach
- Identify opportunities to avoid and reduce water-related impacts at the site level.
- Guide clients through the AWS certification process with one of our AWS credentialed specialists.
- Engage relevant stakeholders at the water basin level.
- Identify and implement locally relevant water-related initiatives.
- Calculate VWM and complimentary indicators.
- Report on progress towards achieving water goals and targets.
- Identify opportunities to take action towards system-wide change.
