Water

The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management, introduces a new framework and tool for assessing corporate water risk management. The tool was developed through a collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Irbaris, and IRRC Institute in consultation with representatives from over 50 financial institutions, companies, and NGOs.

Download the presentation from the September 27 event on Lessons for Rural Water Supply: Sustainable Services at Scale, given by from Harold Lockwood and Patrick Moriarty.

Read the Triple-S study that explains how well rws infrastructure continues to function after its construction, and what can be done to improve this performance.

Impacts on water quality and quantity are among the most contentious aspects of mining projects. Companies insist that the use of modern technologies will ensure environmentally friendly mining practices. However, evidence of the negative environmental impacts of past mining activity causes local and downstream populations to worry that new mining activities will adversely affect their water supply. We report on one mine site in Peru where water has become a particularly conflictive issue. We then provide a detailed proposal for a monitoring plan to recover trust among stakeholders. A well designed and executed monitoring plan for water quantity and quality is critical to foster dialogue, consensus, trust, and transparency between mine and community.

The report evaluates and ranks water disclosure practices of 100 publicly traded companies in eight key sectors exposed to water-related risks. The report shows that many companies are not including material water risks and performance data in their financial filings, nor are they providing local-level water data, particularly in the context of facilities in water-stressed regions. Moreover, none of the 100 companies are providing comprehensive water data on their supply chains, an especially glaring omission given that the vast majority of many corporations' water footprint is in the supply chain.

In this report, JPMorgan Global Environmental, Social, and Governance Research offers investors a framework for evaluating the impact of water scarcity and water pollution on individual sectors and companies. This is the first of a series of reports on transformational issues that we expect to offer investor clients and corporate managements over the course of 2008.

By Jeffrey Stark, Jennifer Li, and Katsuaki Terasawa

Croft Institute for International Studies at The University of Mississippi launched an environmental security assessment of the Philippines. FESS has developed the Environmental Security Assessment Framework (ESAF) as the methodology used for such assessments. The framework is structured to identify risks to nations and regions that arise as a result of the confluence of environmental and political, economic, and societal factors, and to evaluate the implications of these risks. The goal of the ESAF is to inform policymakers, facilitate the establishment of priorities, and contribute to the development of effective and sustainable policies in the public and private sectors.

The report concludes that climate change will exacerbate these growing water risks – especially as the world population grows by 50 million people every year. Already, China, India and the western U.S. are seeing growth limited by reduced water supplies from shrinking glaciers and melting snowcaps that sustain key rivers. Meanwhile, agricultural and power plant production have been cut back due to more frequent and more intense heat waves and droughts in large parts of Australia, California and the southeast U.S.

Excerpted from Water Scarcity & Climate Change: Growing Risks for Businesses & Investors, February 2009 providing leading questions for a company's  consideration for Assessing thier exposure to water risk.

The Human Rights Council of the UN has affirmed by consensus that the right to water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living, which is contained in several international human rights treaties. While experts working with the UN human rights system have long acknowledged this, it was the first time that the Human Rights Council has declared itself on the issue. On 28 July 2010, the General Assembly took a first critical step by recognising this fundamental right. However, that resolution did not specify that the right entailed legally binding obligations. The Human Rights Council – the main UN body competent in the area of human rights – in a resolution tabled by the Governments of Germany and Spain, with support from dozens of countries, has closed this gap by clarifying the foundation for recognition of the right and the legal standards which apply.

By A.G.N. Kitula

This paper reports the findings of a study undertaken to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of mining in Geita District, Tanzania. In addition to sampling community perceptions of mining activities, the study prescribes interventions that can assist in mitigating the negative impacts of mining. Marked environmental and interrelated socio-economic improvements can be achieved within regional artisanal gold mines if the government provides technical support to local operators, regulations are improved, and illegal mining activity is reduced.

By Diana Dogaru, Jurg Zobrist, Dan Balteanu, Claudia Popescu, Mihaela Sima, Manouchehr Amini, Hong Yang

Mining-contaminated sites and the affected communities at risk are important issues on the agenda of both researchers and policy makers, particularly in the former communist block countries in Eastern Europe. Integrated analyses and expert based assessments concerning mining affected areas are important in providing solid policy guidelines for environmental and social risk management and mitigation. Based on a survey for 103 households conducted in a former mining site in the Certej Catchment of the Apuseni Mountains, western Romania, this study assesses local communities’ perceptions on the quality of water in their living area. Logistic regression was used to examine peoples’ perception on the quality of the main river water and of the drinking water based on several predictors relating to social and economic conditions. The results from the perception analysis were then compared with the measurements of heavy metal contamination of the main river and drinking water undertaken in the same study area. The findings indicate that perception and measurement results for the water quality in the Certej Catchment are convergent, suggesting an obvious risk that mining activities pose on the surface water. However, the  perception on drinking water quality was little predicted by the regression model and does not seem to be so much related to mining as to other explanatory factors, such as special mineralogy of rock and soils or improper water treatment infrastructure, facts suggested by the measurements of the contaminants. Discussion about the implications of these joint findings for risk mitigation policies completes this article.

Energy and water systems are dynamically linked. The production, provision and transportation of one resource cannot be achieved without making use of the other and there is growing scientific consensus that climate change is affecting the supply and quality of both. Thus, if past efforts have concentrated on mitigating climate change, policy-makers are now becoming increasingly aware that climate adaptation must also be an integral part of thinking and action to provide sustainable water and energy futures. Some observers suggest the future water-energy interface is even more fundamental: ‘crack energy and you crack water’ (for example: break down seawater to basic hydrogen and oxygen components (1) to provide hydrogen to create a low-carbon energy economy (power, transport and heat), and (2) drive advanced forms of desalination – a limitless source of freshwater).

The search for solutions is complicated because water, energy and climate change are each complex. Examining their interrelationship  further complicates the discussion but we must if we are to take the next step toward a sustainable society. They
also touch all parts of our culture and are interconnected with other issues, such as our values, ecosystems and livelihoods.

The Global Water Tool is a free and easy-to-use tool for companies and organizations to map their water use and assess risks relative to their global operations and supply chains. It compares a company’s sites with validated water and sanitation data on a country and watershed basis. The tool also helps companies understand their water needs in relation to local conditions, such as water availability (current and projected), water scarcity, access to safe drinking water sources and sanitation, as well as population and industrial growth. This online, Excel-based platform takes a company’s water usage data and maps its operation sites with external water and sanitation datasets. Looking beyond operational water use, supplier site locations may also be mapped as well.

 This report is one of a series commissioned by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), representing the IPIECA members’ collective contribution to the global discussion on oil spill preparedness and response. The report series forms one of the key elements of IPIECA’s global education programme, which is aimed at both industry and governments.

This contingency planning report was initially produced in 1991 in the wake of major incidents in 1989–90 and ensuing industry reviews of oil spill preparedness. This version updates the 1991 publication in the light of lessons learnt from oil spills through the 1990s. It also takes into account the effect of increasing ratification amongst maritime nations of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation 1990 (the OPRC Convention). Although there has been a significant drop in the number of major tanker spills through the 1990s, developing effective oil spill contingency plans remains a very important goal for industry and governments.

This manual describes typical ‘best practices’ and strategies used in petroleum refineries to manage water, including ways to reduce water usage. Improved water management in a petroleum refinery can potentially reduce the volume and cost of raw water used in refinery operations. Furthermore, improved water management may result in reductions in wastewater flow or contaminant load or both. Lower flow and contaminant load may result in lower wastewater treatment operating and maintenance costs. Optimized water management may also reduce the mass of contaminants in the treated effluent, thus improving the quality of a wastewater discharge and ultimately the environmental impact of a refinery’s discharge.

This publication outlines the IPIECA water management good practice guidelines, illustrated by a number of company case studies.

The CAO has prepared this guide to be used as a design tool for communities, civil society organizations, corporations, and governments at both the subnational and national level that want to implement participatory water monitoring programs. The document provides a framework that can be used to develop a detailed implementation plan that meets the unique characteristics of each situation.

This paper outlines potential water-related risks facing the mining industry and highlights important gaps in water-related disclosure.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) working papers contain preliminary research, analysis, findings, and recommendations. They are circulated to stimulate timely discussion and critical feedback and to influence ongoing debate on emerging issues. Most working papers are eventually published in another form and their content may be revised.

This working document provides an overview of some basic facts and societal challenges related to water. It has been developed by the WBCSD secretariat and is intended to support the ongoing dialogue within the WBCSD membership and with other stakeholders in civil society and government.

Most businesses will find it difficult to manage all of their water risks alone. Given the complexity of the issues and the political and social importance of water, engagement with civil society, other companies and the public sector is necessary. This report briefly outlines the nature of the global corporate risk around water and highlights ways in which business can better manage this growing risk. The report focuses on water scarcity as the major global issue affecting business, but similar issues often arise where water quality presents risks to companies.