Water Stewardship: More than a Vision on Sustainable Water Management Sabine von Wirén-Lehr CEFIC TF Meeting Brussels,

– 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

GovernmentalAgencies European Institutions Institutions Research Local & Regional Institutions Private Business NGOs EWP as a platform

European Water Stewardship Program Aquawareness Strategic Partners Water Stewardship Partners 2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Water Stewardship Standard 2011 Implementati on Application as business case 2010 Validation Pilot Phase

2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Standard for SWM Phase I 2010 Validation Pilot phase Phase II 2011 Implementation Application as business 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 ImpactWater Abstraction PrincipleAchieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity CriteriaEvaluate water abstraction from all sources - Volume - Location - Timing - Effect IndicatorClassification of sources Measuring water abstraction - Effect of water abstraction on source - Water source flow regime issues 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 Major 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 Major Are all sources without a legal permit and which are used for water abstraction, fully documented and regularly updated? Major 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 source  Abstracted water per sensitive period / per source  Abstracted 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 SWM Industry Agriculture Urban Areas Standard / Guideline ► Definition of SWM Golf Program Phase I: Water Stewardship scheme

2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Standard for SWM Phase I 2010 Validation Pilot phase Phase II 2011 Implementation Application as business case Phase III Water Stewardship Program

Key to Success: Balance Level of Detail - Applicability Program Phase II: Validation Pilot Studies Public 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

2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Standard for SWM Phase I 2010 Validation Pilot phase Phase II 2011 Implementation Application as business case Phase III Water Stewardship Program

Program Phase II: Value Proposition SectorBenefit Private Guidelines to mitigate physical water and political water risks Recognition and reward scheme to protect and enhance brand Innovation 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 objectives Scheme to pilot test at river basin level Civil Society Tool to promote sustainable water management that reduces impacts of concern

Contact Contact and information and Dr Sabine von Wirén-Lehr Program Coordinator European Water Partnership (EWP)