Volume of water discharged, including concentrations of key pollutants and temperature of water discharged

Unit

i
: Cubic meters (m³), Milligrams per liter (mg/l), Degrees Celsius (°C)

Indicator

i
: Wastewater discharged

Metric type

i
: Pressure

Framework alignment notes

i
Target 7
SASB EM-CM 140a.1.
TNFD C2.1. Volume of water discharged split into: • Total • Freshwater; and • Other. Pollutants and water quality metrics to report include: • pH; • TSS (Total Suspended Solids); • TDS (Total Dissolved Solids); • Mercury; • TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons); • BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand); • Dissolved solids; and • Suspended solids. Including: Concentrations of key pollutants in the wastewater discharged, by type of pollutant, referring to sector-specific guidance for types of pollutants; and Temperature of water discharged, where relevant. Guidance for EN/HB: When reporting this core global disclosure metric for construction projects, an organisation should break down discharges by: • The volume from point sources and the volume from non point sources; and • Destination (surface water, groundwater, seawater, or third parties, such as the sewerage network or other users). Organisations should include an estimate or measurement of unintended discharges, including water not accounted for across withdrawal, consumption and discharge, and by type of discharge, to the extent known. Pollutants to report under this core global disclosure metric should include concrete washwater and per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) Guidance for RE/RS: When reporting this core global disclosure metric for properties under management, an organisation should include: • The floor area (m2 and % of total) for which the organisation has discharge data, and the volume discharged from that area; and • For the area for which there are discharge data: • The volume of wastewater discharged without treatment by destination (surface water, groundwater or seawater); • The volume treated on-site or by the organisation elsewhere by destination (surface water, groundwater, seawater or third parties); and • The volume discharged to a third party for treatment (e.g. municipal sewerage company); and • For the volume treated on-site or by the organisation elsewhere, and the volume discharged untreated if available: • The concentrations of dissolved solids and suspended solids, and the temperature, where relevant. Pollutant calculations should be based on an average over the reporting period. For CM: In reporting this core global disclosure metric, water discharged should be broken down by destination: • Surface water; • Groundwater; • Seawater; and • Third-party water, and the volume of this total sent for use to other organisations. As well as broken down by source: • Point source discharge; and • Non-point source discharge. For each site, an organisation should consider disclosing the following pollutants: • pH; • TSS (Total Suspended Solids); • TDS (Total Dissolved Solids); • Metal pollutants (mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), thallium (Tl), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and vanadium (V)); • TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons); and • BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). An organisation should describe the methodology used to calculate said concentrations as well as the dates and/or frequency of measurement for each pollutant, and whether the emission is a one-off occurrence or continuous.

Target example
i

[Company name] will reduce the concentrations of [pollutant type] in discharged water by [target percentage]% by [target year], compared with a baseline of [baseline percentage]% in [baseline year].

Target source: WBCSD target template

Additional target notes

Alternative target for consideration: [Company name] will reduce the amount of non-ambient temperature discharge water released by [target percentage]% by [target year], compared with a baseline of [baseline percentage]% in [baseline year]. (Source - WBCSD target template)

Sector

i
Built Environment

Value chain stage

i
Manufacturing Use End of Life

Metric assessment

i

Relevance: High

Feasibility: High

Related actions

Minimize the release of untreated blackwater, greywater and bilge from shipping

Minimize the release of untreated blackwater, greywater and bilge from shipping

Description

Value chain stage

Use

Sector of stage operator

Built Environment

How the action applies

Coming soon

Optimize waste segregation processes to facilitate upcycling, reuse or sale of byproducts of wastestreams

Optimize waste segregation processes to facilitate upcycling, reuse or sale of byproducts of wastestreams

Description

Value chain stage

End of Life

Sector of stage operator

Built Environment

How the action applies

Coming soon

Prevent pollution or contamination of water bodies

Prevent pollution or contamination of water bodies

Description

Value chain stage

Manufacturing

Sector of stage operator

Built Environment

How the action applies

Coming soon

Ensure safe landfill disposal sites (e.g., regulation, planning and management)

Ensure safe landfill disposal sites (e.g., regulation, planning and management)

Description

Value chain stage

End of Life

Sector of stage operator

Built Environment

How the action applies

Coming soon

Adopt nature-based solutions

Adopt nature-based solutions

Description

Value chain stage

Manufacturing

Sector of stage operator

Built Environment

How the action applies

E.g., green roofs, bird/bat-friendly building materials.

Use
Built Environment

Coming soon