Water. We need it, but it’s a challenge if there’s not enough, or too much, or if it’s not usable! For organizations, managing one’s impact on the environment requires monitoring of water usage by staff and facilities. And of course, there’s a further consideration of the impact your processes may have on the public water supply and environment at large. Now there’s a new standard in the ISO 14000 series that helps you assess your situation. It’s the ISO 14046, “Environmental management – Water footprint – Principles, requirements and guidelines.”
Just released by ISO, the new document provides you with the tools you’ll need to set up a water footprint assessment. You’ll use this to insure that your data collection processes are consistent, transparent, and reproducible. This assessment will provide you with the information you need to identify potential environmental impacts, which means that you can confidently manage your water usage and environmental risks.
The standard can be used specifically for a water footprint assessment, or as part of a wider assessment of environmental impacts and life cycle concerns. It will give you a broad understanding of the terminology used to describe various types and classifications of water, as well as the concepts for these types of assessments and the data they generate.
Primary clauses of the new document include Principles, Methodology, Reporting and Critical Review. There’s also an Annex A, which provides you with a general guideline and some additional requirements you may want to consider. A bibliography with 12 additional references finishes up the document.
If you’re concerned about the risks that your organization may face regarding water usage and sources of pollution, you definitely need to take a look at the ISO 14046. You can get your copy from Document Center Inc. in either paper format or for pdf download. Just order at the Document Center webstore at www.document-center.com. Or consider setting up a Standards Online subscription access account for your company. All ISO standards can be included in this service.
Our staff will be happy to help you with all your standardization questions and requirements. Contact them by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). We’ve been providing standards from our Silicon Valley location since 1982. Make us your Standards Experts!
