15
Indicator Protocols Set: EN
IP
Version 3.1
EN9
Water sources signiicantly afected by withdrawal of water.
1. Relevance
Withdrawals from a water system can afect the environment by lowering the water table, reducing
volume of water available for use, or otherwise altering the ability of an ecosystem to perform its functions. Such
changes have wider impacts on the quality of life in the area, including economic and social consequences.
This Indicator measures the scale of impacts associated with the organization’s water use. In terms of relations
with other users of the same water sources, this Indicator also enables an assessment of speciic areas
of risk or improvement, as well as the stability of the organization’s own water sources.
2. Compilation
2.1 Identify water sources signiicantly afected by
water withdrawal by the reporting organization. Signiicant withdrawals meet one or more of the
following criteria:
• Withdrawals that account for an average of 5 percent or more of the annual average
volume of a given water body; • Withdrawals from water bodies that are
recognized by professionals to be particularly sensitive due to their relative size, function,
or status as a rare, threatened, or endangered system or to their support of a particular
endangered species of plant or animal; or
• Any withdrawal from a Ramsar-listed wetland or any other nationally or internationally
proclaimed conservation area regardless of the rate of withdrawal.
Note: If the water is provided by a public or private water supplier, the original water body
source should be identiied and reported. 2.2
Report the total number of signiicantly afected water sources by type according to the criteria
above, indicating the following:
• Size of water source in cubic meters m
3
; • Whether or not the source is designated
as a protected area nationally andor internationally; and
• Biodiversity value e.g., species diversity and endemism, number of protected species.
• Valueimportance of water source to local communities.
3. Deinitions
None.
4. Documentation
Information on the characteristics of a water source or protected area can be obtained from local or national
water-related ministries or government departments, or research such as environmental impact assessments.
5. References
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971.
16
Indicator Protocols Set: EN
IP
© 2000-2011 GRI
EN10
Percentage and total volume of water recycled and reused.
1. Relevance
The rate of water reuse and recycling can be a measure of eiciency and can demonstrate the success of the
organization in reducing total water withdrawals and discharges. Increased reuse and recycling can result
in a reduction of water consumption, treatment, and disposal costs. The reduction of water consumption
through reuse and recycling can also contribute to local, national, or regional goals for managing water supplies.
2. Compilation
2.1 This Indicator measures both water that was
treated prior to reuse and water that was not treated prior to reuse. Grey water i.e., collected
rainwater and wastewater generated by household processes such as washing dishes, laundry, and
bathing is included.
2.2 Calculate the volume of recycledreused water
based on the volume of water demand satisied by recycledreused water rather than further
withdrawals. For example, if the organization has a production cycle that requires 20 cubic meters of
water per cycle, the organization withdraws 20 cubic meters of water for one production
process cycle and then reuses it for an additional three cycles. The total volume of water recycled
reused for that process is 60 cubic meters.
2.3 Report the total volume of water recycledreused
by the organization in cubic meters per year m
3
year and also as a percentage of the total water withdrawal reported under Indicator EN8.
3. Deinitions RecyclingReuse
The act of processing used waterwastewater through another cycle before discharge to inal treatment andor
discharge to the environment. In general, there are three types of water recyclingre-use:
• Wastewater recycled back in the same process or
higher use of recycled water in the process cycle; •
Wastewater recycledre-used in a diferent process, but within the same facility; and
• Wastewater re-used at another of the reporting
organization’s facilities.
4. Documentation
