Processor Handbook - Innovation Center for US Dairy

5. Definitions
Total water discharge: It is the sum of water effluents
discharged over the course of the reporting period to
subsurface waters, surface waters, sewers that lead to
rivers, oceans, lakes, wetlands, treatment facilities, and
ground water either through:
• A defined discharge point (point source discharge);
• Over land in a dispersed or undefined manner
(nonpoint source discharge); or
• Wastewater removed from the reporting
organization via truck. Discharge of collected
rainwater and domestic sewage is not regarded as
water discharge.
Wastewater-to-milk processed ratio: It is the efficiency of
wastewater discharged per unit of milk processed or dairy
product output by the company. It can
be used to assess efficiency within the
company over several time intervals; it
should not be used to benchmark against
different companies.
6. Documentation
Information sources about the volume
of water discharged by the reporting
organization include flow meters (pointsource
discharges or when discharges are
released through a pipe) and regulatory
permits. (GRI G3.1)
7. Resources
• U.S. EPA, Water Quality Standards
Handbook: Second Edition, www.
water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/
standards/handbook/index.cfm.
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs), 2001, www.chm.pops.int/
Home/tabid/2121/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/871/
EventID/230/xmid/6921/Default.aspx.
Potentially to add to this set of indicators in future
versions of the Guide: CROSS-MEDIA Economic indicator:
Report the annual cost of water disposal and, if applicable,
costs reductions and savings from new practices,
technologies or other reasons.
Water Recycling and Reuse —
Secondary PM Water 4
Water Recycled
1. Relevance
Reporting the total volume of water recycled contributes
to an understanding of the overall scale of avoided impacts
and risks associated with the company’s water use. The total
volume recycled provides an indication of the company’s
relative size and importance as a recycler of water, and
provides a baseline figure for other calculations relating to
recycling efficiency and water reuse.
The systematic effort to monitor and improve the efficient
reuse of water in the company is directly linked to
water consumption costs. Clean freshwater is becoming
increasingly scarce, and can impact production processes
that rely on large volumes of water. In regions where water
sources are highly restricted, the company’s water recycling
patterns also can influence positively relations with other
stakeholders. (GRI G3.1)
This is an optional indicator. Processors and manufacturers
can choose to report this indicator to support their
stories about water conservation and efficiency
management practices.
This indicator can be used to report to GRI G3.1 EN10.
2. Metric
Percentage and total volume of water recycled and reused
Wastewater recycled back in the same process or
higher use of recycled water in the process cycle
Wastewater recycled/reused in a different
process, but within the same facility
Rainwater collected directly and stored by the
reporting organization (includes snow and ice
melt water)
Wastewater reused at another of the reporting
organization’s facilities
Total:
Gal./Yr.
% of Total Water
Recycled
100%
3. Calculation and reporting
3.1 Measure
This indicator measures both water that was treated prior
to reuse and water that was not treated prior to reuse. Gray
water (i.e., collected rainwater and wastewater generated by
nonseptic water collection) is included.
Calculate the volume of recycled/reused water based on
the volume of water demand satisfied by recycled/reused
water rather than further withdrawals. For example, if the
company has a production cycle that requires 200 gallons
of water per cycle, the company withdraws 200 gallons 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 600 gallons. (GRI G3.1)
3.2 Report
Report the total volume of water recycled/reused by the
company in gallons per year and also as a percentage of the
total water withdrawal reported under Water 1. (GRI G3.1)
4. Optional measurement considerations
Report water recycled per gallon of milk processed or dairy
product output. This ratio can be used to assess efficiency
within the company over several time intervals; it should
4
continued on page 34
33