Water Positive Index (WPI)
Measure. Verify. Replenish. Become Water Positive.
Measure. Verify. Replenish. Become Water Positive.
Water is one of the most critical resources for business continuity, communities and ecosystems. Increasing water scarcity, groundwater depletion, pollution, climate variability and competing demands are creating significant operational and sustainability risks for industries.
TUV India’s Water Positive Index (WPI) provides a structured, transparent and evidence-based framework to assess, verify and certify an organization's progress towards a Water Positive status.
The WPI methodology evaluates the relationship between water withdrawal and consumption, water reuse and recycling, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, replenishment initiatives and beneficial external water use to determine whether an organization has achieved a Water Negative, Water Neutral or Water Positive water balance.
An organization is considered Water Positive when the quantity of water replenished, conserved or beneficially restored through eligible initiatives exceeds the water consumed within the defined organizational boundary and assessment period.
TUV India’s WPI framework evaluates water performance through a combination of:
The methodology defines water footprint status as Positive, Neutral or Negative, based on the relationship between water credits and water debits.
Water stewardship is increasingly becoming a strategic business priority.
A credible Water Positive programme can help organizations:
A Robust, Evidence-Based Approach to Water Stewardship
The TUV India WPI programme goes beyond conventional water-saving initiatives.
It adopts a holistic approach covering:
Reduce → Reuse → Recycle → Recharge → Replenish → Verify → Improve
The programme considers both water debit and water credit components and evaluates the organization's overall water balance.
Water Debit : Water debit represents the water withdrawn or consumed by the organization, including relevant operational losses and consumption.
Typical sources include:
Water Credit: Water credit represents eligible water conservation, reuse, recycling and replenishment measures.
Examples include:
The WPI methodology specifically identifies water withdrawal/consumption as the debit side and replenishment measures as the credit side of the water footprint assessment.
| WPI Status | Water Balance | Interpretation |
| Water Positive | WPI > 1 | Water credits/replenishment exceed water debit |
| Water Neutral | WPI = 1 | Water credits equal water debit |
| Water Negative | WPI < 1 | Water credits are lower than water debit |
The WPI methodology evaluates the relationship between water replenishment/conservation and water withdrawal.
The checklist specifies the WPI calculation as:
WPI = (Water Recharged + Water Reused + Water Saved) ÷ Water Withdrawn
A WPI greater than 1 supports a Water Positive claim.
Example
If an organization withdraws 100,000 m³/year and achieves eligible replenishment of:
Rainwater harvesting – 30,000 m³
Check dams – 50,000 m³
Voluntary recharge – 40,000 m³
Total replenishment = 120,000 m³
WPI = 120,000 / 100,000 = 1.20
The organization would therefore demonstrate a Water Positive status under the methodology.
What Does the WPI Assessment Cover?
A. Water Footprint & Accounting
The assessment establishes a baseline and evaluates:
A comprehensive water balance is developed to understand water inflows, consumption, losses, storage and outflows.
B. Water Efficiency & 3R
Organizations are assessed on measures to:
C. Recharge & Replenishment
Eligible initiatives may include:
Recharge claims are evaluated against available evidence and, where applicable, hydrological studies and actual recharge performance.
D. Water Risk Assessment
The WPI framework considers:
E. Stakeholder Engagement
Water management extends beyond the organizational boundary.
The methodology therefore considers engagement with:
TUV India follows a structured, risk-based verification process.
Step 1 — Planning & Scoping
Define:
Step 2 — Data Collection & Evidence Review
Review relevant:
Step 3 — Water Balance Validation
TUV India verifies the reported water balance and assesses the potential for:
Step 4 — WPI Calculation
Verified debit and credit data are evaluated to determine the organization's WPI and corresponding water status.
Step 5 — Risk & Materiality Assessment
The verification focuses on significant contributors and potential risks affecting the credibility of the Water Positive claim.
Step 6 — Stakeholder & External Validation
Where applicable, community projects, watershed initiatives and regulatory compliance are reviewed and validated.
Step 7 — Reporting & Assurance Statement
The verification report identifies:
Step 8 — Continuous Improvement
Recommendations are provided to strengthen:
The TUV India WPI certification process follows a defined sequence:
The methodology provides for an initial verification followed by surveillance activities. The certification programme is designed around a three-year cycle, with certificates issued annually and renewed based on surveillance verification.
Independent Third-Party Verification: Water Positive claims are evaluated independently against a defined methodology.
Evidence-Based Assessment: Water claims must be supported by traceable, accurate and verifiable data.
Risk-Based Verification: The assessment focuses on significant water consumption, replenishment and water-related risks.
Catchment & Community Perspective: The methodology considers water challenges beyond the factory boundary, including community and watershed initiatives.
Anti-Greenwashing Controls: The methodology addresses double counting, inflated recharge claims and unsupported water savings.
Continuous Improvement: The WPI programme is designed not only to assess current performance but also to support progressive improvement in water stewardship.
The TÜV India WPI methodology references and supports alignment with relevant water management frameworks, including:
The methodology also references Indian regulatory frameworks including the National Water Policy, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, CGWA requirements, the Water Act and Environment Protection Act.
A key principle of WPI is that organizations should not claim mandatory regulatory compliance activities as voluntary water-positive contributions.
For example, mandatory CSR expenditure under Section 135 of the Companies Act is not eligible as a WPI contribution.
However, voluntary water projects independently planned and implemented beyond statutory CSR obligations may be considered, subject to verification.
Examples include:
The WPI framework is particularly relevant for organizations with significant water dependency or water-related impacts, including:
The methodology is intended for organizations such as manufacturers, suppliers, logisticians and users that have significant water consumption and are implementing water-efficiency measures.
For Business
For Sustainability
For Stakeholders
From Water Consumption to Water Stewardship
Achieving Water Positive status is not simply about offsetting water consumption. It requires a systematic understanding of where water comes from, where it is used, where it is lost, how much is reused and recycled, and how effectively water is replenished within relevant catchments and communities.
With TUV India’s Water Positive Index, organizations can establish a credible baseline, implement measurable water stewardship initiatives, verify their performance and demonstrate progress towards a Water Positive future.
Reduce your water dependency.
Replenish water resources.
Verify your Water Positive performance. **
Talk to TUV India about Water Positive Index Verification & Certification.