ISO
24526 is a certification standard for water efficieny management systems
(WEMS), aiming to contribute to the efficient and sustainable use of water. The
standard states requirements and gives a flexible guidance on how to introduce
and sustain a water efficiency management system in companies. Any company and
organisation can implement the standard. Especially water-intensive commerce and
industry will benefit from the implementation of a WEMS in accordance with ISO
24526. Water is one of the world’s essential resources. Escalating demand for
water and changes in the climate are increasing pressure on the world’s water
supply. The UN recognizes the importance of taking an integrated approach to
freshwater management as part of its Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure
availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Water
efficiency is one component of that approach, noted in Target 6.4: By 2030,
substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure
sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. The
challenge is encouraging organizations to begin implementing water efficiency
measures. The ISO Kobe Workshop on Water held on 25-26 July 2012 and the ISO
Technical Management Board’s Implementation Task Force on Water identified the
need for an ISO standard relating to water efficiency. ISO 24526 provides
methods and tools to enable organizations to assess and account for their water
usage, and to identify, plan and implement measures to optimize water use
through the systematic management of water. ISO 24526 supports UN Sustainable
Goal 6 by facilitating sustainable water management practices and improving
water efficiency in all sectors thus helping to alleviate water scarcity. The
implementation of ISO 24526 leads to the following competitive advantages:
Cost
savings due to efficient water management
Improvement
of the water balance
Improvement
of the company’s image
More
reliable data for sustainability reporting
It specifies requirements applicable to water usage, including monitoring, measurement, documentation and reporting, design and procurement practices for equipment, systems, processes and personnel that contribute to water efficiency. The standard facilitates organisations to prepare their Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP). Water efficiency is important because no place is immune from drought, and, as the population grows, everyone will have to be smarter about how they use water resources in order to meet everyone's needs. Efficiency isn't an excuse to use more or to waste water. The duration of the audit depends on the size of your organization.
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