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ISO 46001 Water efficiency management systems

ISO 46001 Water efficiency management systems — Requirements with guidance for use

Description

The International Standard ISO 46001:2019 provides a structured framework to help organisations manage their water use in a responsible and efficient manner. Today, the availability of water resources is increasingly affected by factors such as climate change, global population growth and rising consumption. For this reason, organisations are called upon to develop and implement clear strategies that promote the sustainable use of water. Rational water management is no longer merely an environmental choice, but a key element for business resilience, compliance with regulatory requirements and the improvement of their overall environmental performance.

Features

The ISO 46001:2019 standard specifies requirements and provides guidance on the use of water in organisations. It includes practices for monitoring, measuring, documenting, reporting, planning and procuring equipment, systems, procedures and staff training that contribute to water efficiency management. It applies to organisations of all types and sizes that use water and focuses on end users.

The standard is particularly important for industries that require large quantities of water, such as:

 

For the private sector:

  • the food and beverage industry and the agri-food chain as a whole,
  • the semiconductor, electronics, optoelectronics, petrochemical, paper and steel
  • manufacturing,
  • pharmaceutical industry,
  • chemical industry,
  • energy facilities (and data centres)
  • tourism facilities

For the public sector:

  • Water supply companies, DEYA, irrigation network management bodies and organisations managing critical water infrastructure

 

Benefits

  • reduction in water consumption and operating costs
  • Identification of leaks and inefficient processes
  • improvement of production process efficiency
  • Development of reliable ESG performance indicators and sustainability reports
  • Strengthening compliance with regulatory requirements
  • improving transparency and credibility towards investors and stakeholders

 

ISO 46001 is fully compatible with existing management systems such as ISO 50001 (Energy Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management). It can be implemented as a standalone system or integrated into existing management systems.