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Chapter 7: Working with Water
WATER STEWARDSHIP FOR BUSINESS
Water stewardship for business is a progression of increased improvement of
water use and a reduction in the water-related impacts of internal and value
chain operations. More importantly, it is a commitment to the sustainable
management of shared water resources in the public interest through collective
action with other businesses, governments, NGOs and communities.
-WWF
Alliance for Water Stewardship
The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is a non-profit organisation founded as
a response to the urgency and scale of water challenges today. The AWS operates
a global water stewardship standard, launched in 2014. The focus is to promote
water stewardship through a globally-consistent set of principles and criteria. This
standard is new and unique, especially because it includes social water issues,
and promotes collective action and transparency. It provides a clear step-by-step
roadmap with questions you can ask about your water risks and your water use –
both within your operation and within your operating catchment. The standard is
available for anyone to use and a formal verification process is under development.
FIGURE 7.2: THE FIVE WATER STEWARDSHIP STEPS
Collective action for our water future
As water is a common resource – it is not owned by individuals or organisations –
it can be difficult to organise people and groups to voluntarily look after it better.
Encouragingly, we are seeing many examples of communities, NGOs and government
coming together in collective water action initiatives that are making a difference in
their catchments.
Water Facts & Futures: Rethinking South Africa’s Water Future | Page
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