ISO 46001:2019 Water efficiency management systems

Courtesy: ISO 46001:2019 Water efficiency management systems

This document specifies requirements and contains guidance for its use in establishing, implementing and maintaining a water efficiency management system. It is applicable to organizations of all types and sizes that use water. It is focused on end-use consumers.

a) achieve the efficient use of water through the ?reduce, replace or reuse’ approach;

b) establish, implement and maintain water efficiency;

c) continually improve water efficiency.

This document specifies requirements and contains guidance for its use regarding organizational water use. It includes monitoring, measurement, documentation, reporting, design and procurement practices for equipment, systems, processes and personnel training that contribute to water efficiency management.

ISO 46001:2019 is the first Requirements Standard developed by ISO TC 224, to which organizations can receive certification as a water efficiency management organization.  It parallels ISO 14001 – Environmental Management and 50001 – Energy Efficiency Management, and is an increasingly important standard as we move to the UN’s sustainable goals and objectives. Both water services and their customers can demonstrate their efficient use of water both in the provision of water or in the use of water to demonstrate their contributions to water sustainability.

Water is one of the world’s essential resources. Escalating demand for water and changes in the climate are increasing pressure on the world’s water supply.

The UN recognises the importance of taking an integrated approach to freshwater management as part of its Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Water efficiency is one component of that approach, noted in Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.

The challenge is encouraging organizations to begin implementing water efficiency measures. The ISO Kobe Workshop on Water held on 25-26 July 2012 and the ISO Technical Management Board’s Implementation Task Force on Water identified the need for an ISO standard relating to water efficiency.

ISO 46001 provides methods and tools to enable organizations to assess and account for their water usage, and to identify, plan and implement measures to optimize water use through the systematic management of water. ISO 46001supports UN Sustainable Goal 6 by facilitating sustainable water management practices and improving water efficiency in all sectors thus helping to alleviate water scarcity.

Similar to the other management systems standard, the standard is applicable to small, medium, and large organizations that use or consume water. The proposed standard is flexible and can be adapted to a wide range of organizations, irrespective of size, sector, structure, geography, or jurisdiction.