Resource Efficiency - Water
Water is used throughout the construction lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials, through manufacturing and construction phases, in-building use and occasionally at end-of-life during demolition. Yet pressures on UK and global freshwater resources are growing due to population growth, increased industrialisation, urbanisation, varying lifestyles and a changing climate.
Company level
Principal means of evidence reporting by manufacturers
ISO 14001:2015 provides a framework for companies and organisations, regardless of activity or sector, seeking to set up an effective environmental management system.
The ISO 14000 family of standards is developed by the ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 207 and its various sub-committees.
BRE's BES 6001 is a certification scheme for the responsible sourcing of construction products. To a degree a hybrid between product and company-level certification, it sets out requirements within three key areas:
- Organisational management
- Supply chain management
- Environmental and social issues
The scheme focuses primarily on material traceability through supply chains and the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
A BES certification amongst responsible sourcing certifications may boost material credits within BRE’s BREAM Building Rating Scheme.
Secondary means of evidence reporting by manufacturers
GRI sustainability reporting provides information on an organisation's critical impact on the environment, society and economy. The environmental category encompasses impacts relating to inputs (eg energy and water) and outputs (eg emissions, effluents, waste.) It also takes in biodiversity, transport, product and service-related impacts, together with environmental compliances and expenditures.
G4 includes GRI 303: Water 2016 which sets out reporting standards for organisations of all sizes and across all sectors on water usage and output.
GRI reporting is not commonly used by UK-based construction product manufacturers.
The Carbon Trust Standard for Water independently certificates an organisation’s achievements in managing and reducing water use and provides a framework for best practice.
The standard is more commonly used in the retail sector than within construction.
CDP is a global disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions to manage environmental impacts and for investors or purchasers to access environmental information for financial decision-making.
Product level
Principal means of evidence reporting by manufacturers
The environmental impact of construction product manufacture is measured by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The methodology for measuring environmental impacts has become a European standard – EN 15804 the outcome of which is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
The EPD measures a range of impacts, several relating to water, including fresh water consumption – use of Net Freshwater (m3 per product unit).
On water quality, EN 15804 measures:
- Eutrophication potential (kg (PO4)3 equiv)
- Acidification potential (kg SO2 equiv)
Ecotoxity for aquatic fresh water is under discussion.
Products that have an EPD can be found at:
ISO 14046:2014 specifies principles, requirements and guidelines related to water footprint assessment of products, processes and organisations based on life cycle assessment (LCA).
It may be applied to any product (including non-construction products) and can provide:
- Water Availability Footprint
- Water Footprint Profile
- Weighted Water Footprint
The result of a water footprint assessment is a single value or profile of impact indicator results.
While reporting is within the scope of ISO 14046:2014, communication of water footprint results is not.
The European Water Label provides information to enable customers to readily identify water efficient products. The label covers showers, taps, toilets and baths and is in use in over 30 European countries. It aids access to information about bathroom products which when correctly installed and used will use less water, saving energy and money.
BRE's BES 6001 is a certification scheme for the responsible sourcing of construction products. To a degree a hybrid between product and company-level certification, it sets out requirements within three key areas:
The scheme sets out requirements under 3 main headings:
- Organisational management
- Supply chain management
- Environmental and social issues
The scheme focuses primarily on material traceability through supply chains and the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
A BES certification amongst responsible sourcing certifications may boost material credits within BRE's BREEAM Building Rating Scheme.
Secondary means of evidence reporting by manufacturers
ISO 21930:2007 is the international standard for measuring the environmental impact of building products and producing their respective Environmental Declarations for them.
The standard includes a number of indicators relating to water, including water consumption, eutrophication and acidification.
It evolves in tandem with the European Standard EN 15804.
Founded in 2008, the Water Footprint Network is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder network focussed on improving water resources globally. It promotes water footprints calculated on an individual, process, product's entire value chain, business, river basin or national level.
These footprints are not often used by construction product manufacturers.
This Carbon Trust certification calculates water consumption over the entire lifecycle of a product or service, from production through to recycling or disposal.
Download the Product Water Footprint Certification Overview (PDF).
The footprint is not commonly used for construction products as other standards are more applicable.
