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
Indicator
Metric type
Framework alignment notes
Target example
[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
Relevance: Medium
Feasibility: Medium
Additional Metric Notes
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/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.