Water management: objective water conservation

In business, the management system approach consists of building and developing activities through interactions and correlations with stakeholders in order to achieve objectives and ensure they have a positive impact. This approach enables more efficient use of resources, better risk management, protection of people and the environment, and increased capacity to deliver products and services that have an impact on customers and stakeholders. All of this is done in a spirit of continuous improvement, with a designated leader, and following the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" (PDCA) logic.

Like the carbon footprint with CO2 emissions, the water footprint is an indicator that allows us to visualize the water resources required for a product, service, process, or company throughout its entire life cycle, from production to end of life. To calculate a water footprint, a life cycle assessment (LCA) must be carried out using a standardized calculation method (ISO 14046 standard). A water footprint makes it possible to identify the stages and levers on which to act in order to consume less water. A water footprint can be used to inform the indicators of a CSR policy.

Local authorities approach sustainable and efficient water management from a risk perspective (floods, droughts, equipment failures, pollution, etc.). They are at the heart of a multi-stakeholder dialogue with water agencies, sanitation services such as SPANC, and decentralized government services (water and land use planning departments, Dreal). Here again, it is a voluntary standard, ISO 37101 on sustainable development in local communities, that helps to organize efforts in this area.