Water Stewardship:More than a Vision on

Sustainable Water Management

Sabine von Wirén-LehrCEFIC TF MeetingBrussels, 23.02.11

– Guidance– Positive Incentives- Fines / Penalties (regulations / pricing / law)

Water Stewardship goes further:

Volume Impact RESPONSE

RESPONSE through:

Together in the same direction

Going one step further…

European Water Stewardship Program: Footprinting and Stewardship

Reward

Life Cycle Analysis

Impacts

Volume Accounting

Response

Communication

Footprinting: understanding

Stewardship: responding

… with the right tools!

– Developed via a multi-stakeholder process– Complement and support regulatory actions by working with leaders– Recognize and reward water users who take major steps towards

sustainable water management– Minimize the impacts at the facility and watershed level

A standard to change behavior towards Sustainable Water Management (SWM)

– Definition of requirements for SWM– Objective scheme to evalaute the sustainability– Communicate and award sustainable performance

A voluntary scheme for and from water users

– Connect and relate European and global processes– Avoid the “carbon situation”

A global framework

Governmental

Governmental

AgenciesAgencies

EuropeanEuropean InstitutionsInstitutions

ResearchResearch

Local & Regional Local & Regional InstitutionsInstitutions

Private Business

Private Business

NGOsNGOs

EWP as a platform

European Water Stewardship Program

Aquawareness Strategic Partners

Water Stewardship Partners

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Water

Stewardship Standard

2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

2010Validation

• Pilot Phase

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Standard

for SWM

Phase I2010Validation

• Pilot phase

Phase II2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

Phase III

Water Stewardship Program

Focus for Standard

Improved water flow regime

Equitable governance

Improved water quality

Protected habitats

Watershed-level targets

Technical assessment is basis but Water is more!Take into account social, political, economic aspects Focus on Operational and Watershed Level

Program Phase I: Standard Development

1 Standard for all sectors: 4 Principles

Principle 1: Achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity.

Principle 2: Ensure the achievement and maintenance of good status in terms of chemical quality and biological elements.

Principle 3: Restore and preserve water-cycle related high conservation value ecosystems.

Principle 4: Achieve equitable and transparent water governance.

Water example

Impact Water Abstraction

Principle Achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity

Criteria Evaluate water abstraction from all sources- Volume - Location- Timing - Effect

Indicator Classification of sourcesMeasuring water abstraction

- Effect of water abstraction on source- Water source flow regime issues

Program Phase I: Standard Structure

Program Phase I: Standard Structure

Principle 1. Achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity.

Explanation: Sustainable Water Management shall achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction from all sources, and maintain or restore environmental flow regime in all catchments where it has a significant influence. Therefore, the abstraction and use of water from all sources shall be evaluated by the water manager.

Criterion 1.1 The total and the net water abstraction shall be quantified and monitored by source.

Indicator.

1.1.1Major

Are all sources with a legal permit and which are used for water abstraction, fully documented and regularly updated?

For example: Self-supply sources:Groundwater (specify renewable groundwater and fossil water) Surface (fresh) water (including water from wetlands, rivers, lakes or artificial and heavily modified surface water bodies)Alternative sources: Rainwater collection.Recycled water.Desalinated water.

From public/private water system:Municipal water (tap, drinking, supply water).Public Water Services (PWS) = Water utilities.

Other

1.1.2Major

Are all sources without a legal permit and which are used for water abstraction, fully documented and regularly updated?

1.1.3Major

Is the water volume abstracted from each source as identified above quantified, monitored and recorded?

Provide a general table including:Abstracted water per year/ per sourceAbstracted water per sensitive period / per sourceAbstracted water per month / per source

Calculate the water consumption per source: total water abstraction minus water discharge for each source.

List of Communication Tools► Awarding SWM

Checklist / Evaluation Scheme► Assessment of SWMIndustry

Agriculture

Urban Areas

Standard / Guideline ► Definition of SWM

Golf

Program Phase I: Water Stewardship scheme

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Standard

for SWM

Phase I2010Validation

• Pilot phase

Phase II2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

Phase III

Water Stewardship Program

Key to Success:

Balance Level of Detail - Applicability

Program Phase II: Validation

Pilot StudiesPublic Consultation

Pilot organizations:– provide feedback and expertise– receive first performance analysis

Program Phase II: Current Status

Pilot organizations:

Industry

Agriculture

Golf

Urban Areas

Program Phase II: Feedback from Pilots

“Strong support to improve the water management performance of the pilot organization, according to the principles of Water Stewardship. “

“Even under highly regulated conditions and in well managed organizations, the Water Stewardship scheme provides added value by giving a new, comprehensive and far-reaching view on the sustainability of the water management inside the operation and on the level of the referring water shed.”

“Pilot organizations received an exhaustive analysis of the major drawbacks of the operational water management and the referring improvement points.”

“Pilot organizations can use the evaluation results as basis to adapt and develop their water management strategy.”

Program Phase II: Outcome Pilots

Physical risk – water supply and quality

Regulatory risk – uncertainty

Reputational risk – social license to operate

Financial risk – threats to the bottom line, direct costs and investment related

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Standard

for SWM

Phase I2010Validation

• Pilot phase

Phase II2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

Phase III

Water Stewardship Program

Program Phase II: Value Proposition

Sector Benefit

Private Guidelines to mitigate physical water and political water risksRecognition and reward scheme to protect and enhance brandInnovation and development of new market opportunities

Public Tool to support and achieve effective policy implementation at river basin level e.g. WFD implementation and river basin level policy objectivesScheme to pilot test at river basin level

Civil Society Tool to promote sustainable water management that reduces impacts of concern

ContactContact

Contact and informationwww.ewp.eu/activities/water-stewardshipandDr Sabine von Wirén-Lehr Program Coordinator European Water Partnership (EWP)E-mail: s.von-wiren-lehr@ewp.eu