Rate of nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus) loading in wastewater streams, indicating whether these are discharged directly to the environment or sent to waste-water treatment by a third party

Unit

i
: Kilograms per month (kg/month), Kilograms per year (kg/year)

Indicator

i
: Pollutants released to environment

Metric type

i
: Pressure

Framework alignment notes

i
SBTN: Rate of nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus) loading in wastewater streams, indicating whether these are discharged directly to the environment or sent to waste-water treatment by a third party
ISO 14046 - data describing water quality (including for water withdrawal, release and water receiving body) emissions to air, water and soil that impact water quality

Target example
i

[Company name] will reduce their rate of nutrient load into wastewater streams in [basin] by [target percentage]% by [target year], compared with a baseline of [baseline percentage]% in [baseline year]. They will also indicate the source of this discharge, whether it is discharged directly to the environment or treated by a 3rd party.

Target source: Adapted from SBTN Freshwater Target

Metric assessment

i

Relevance: Medium

Feasibility: Medium

Additional Metric Notes
i

ACT-D stage
Assess

Maturity stage
Advancing

Metric Contribution to Action
Tracking nutrient loading helps mitigate eutrophication risks and supports responsible nutrient management.

Observations, Successes and Challenges

  • Requires on-site monitoring
  • Nutrient pollution often originates from diffuse sources, making it hard to attribute emissions to specific companies.
  • Nutrients may be diluted in some areas but highly concentrated in others, leading to localized environmental damage.
  • Nutrient runoff is influenced by rainfall, soil type, and climate, making year-to-year comparisons complex.

Related actions

i

Prevent pollution or contamination of water bodies

Prevent pollution or contamination of water bodies

Description