Total discharge by destination type (surface water, groundwater, seawater and to third parties) and water quality (high and low) in water stressed areas

Unit

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: Megaliters (Ml)

Indicator

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: Wastewater discharged

Metric type

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: Pressure

Framework alignment notes

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ICMM Table 1: Total discharge by destination type (surface water, groundwater, seawater and to third parties) and water quality (high and low) in water stressed areas
ISO 14046 - quantities of water used (including water withdrawal and release)

Target example
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[Company name] will reduce its water discharges to surface water, groundwater, seawater and to third parties to [target amount in ML/year] by [target year] respectively (option here for individual targets per destination). [Company name] will ensure that only high quality water is discharged into water stressed areas by [target year].

Target source: WBCSD target template

Metric assessment

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Relevance: High

Feasibility: Medium

Additional Metric Notes
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ACT-D stage
Assess

Maturity stage
Developing

Metric Contribution to Action
Tracking discharges by destination and quality helps manage pollution levels and prioritize clean water practices in sensitive and stressed areas.

Observations, Successes and Challenges

  • Variability of water quality standards
  • Useful for understanding water flow balance
  • Can be compared with withdrawals to assess overall water consumption.
  • The volume alone doesn’t reveal whether the discharged water is polluted or clean.
  • Discharges into a sensitive ecosystem (e.g., wetlands) may have greater impact than into a high-flow river.
  • Potential for misleading interpretation. E.g., A company with high discharges may be seen as wasteful, even if most of the water is treated and safely returned.

Related actions

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Prevent pollution or contamination of water bodies

Prevent pollution or contamination of water bodies

Description