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Reporting and disclosure
Water reporting and disclosure: Ensuring transparency in water management
As part of sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives, businesses are increasingly required to measure and disclose their water usage. While carbon reporting is well established, water reporting remains less standardised, often relying on company-specific frameworks and internal benchmarks. This lack of standardisation can make it challenging for businesses to effectively track, measure, and disclose their water usage in a way that aligns with regulatory requirements.
Water reporting and disclosure is not just about compliance, but also about gaining a deeper understanding of your water footprint and using that knowledge to drive positive change. By implementing robust water reporting practices, businesses can track consumption, identify inefficiencies, optimise resource usage, reduce costs, and support their environmental and carbon reduction goals.
Partnering with The Water Retail Company
Contact us today to understand how we can support your water reporting and disclosure needs. By partnering with us, businesses can enhance their water efficiency strategies, meet disclosure obligations, and contribute to long-term sustainability.
Request serviceWhat is water reporting and disclosure?
Water reporting is the systematic tracking and analysis of an organisation’s water consumption, wastewater discharge, overall water efficiency and environmental impact. Comprehensive water reporting solutions include various elements, aimed at providing valuable insights and helping businesses make data-driven decisions. First, water usage monitoring provides detailed reports on consumption patterns across the portfolio. Second, wastewater analysis assesses wastewater discharge quality and ensures compliance with environmental standards. Additionally, performance benchmarking compares water efficiency metrics against industry standards and competitors, enabling companies to measure their progress. Finally, water footprint analysis evaluates both the direct and indirect water impact of business operations.
Different water reporting metrics can be used, as they are tailored to each business’s operational needs. Companies can track water usage per unit of production, such as cubic meters of water per car produced, to measure efficiency in manufacturing. Water consumption per employee is normalised using full-time employee equivalents, allowing businesses to assess water use per staff member accurately. Occupancy-based water consumption considers the Allowable Lettable Area (ALA) to determine cubic meters used per unit of space, making it particularly relevant for commercial properties. Industry-specific water metrics vary, with hotels tracking cubic meters per guest, healthcare facilities measuring water usage per bed day, and manufacturing businesses assessing water use per produced unit. For companies with additional water-intensive facilities like pools, laundries, or bars, bespoke metrics can be developed to provide a more precise understanding of water consumption.
Water disclosure is the process of transparently reporting water usage and management practices to stakeholders, including regulators, investors, customers and the public. Many businesses are now required or expected to disclose their water data as part of different sustainability reporting frameworks. The CDP Water Security Disclosure serves as a leading global framework for corporate water reporting. ESG and Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSR) align water usage with broader environmental goals, ensuring companies integrate water management into their sustainability strategies. The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) focuses on addressing water risks and dependencies within climate risk assessments. Corporate Water Disclosure Guidelines outline best practices for transparent water usage reporting, helping businesses enhance accountability. Additionally, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) establishes a regulatory framework that requires more standardised sustainability reporting, reinforcing the importance of consistent and comparable water data.
Carbon accounting is the process of measuring, tracking, and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to quantify carbon footprints, assess environmental impact, and develop reduction strategies. For businesses committed to achieving net-zero emissions, understanding the interconnection between water and carbon reporting is essential. Water usage and carbon emissions are closely linked, particularly through Scope 3 (indirect) emissions. Water treatment, heating and distribution, as well as the energy required for water extraction and disposal contributes significantly to a company’s carbon footprint. By improving water efficiency, businesses can simultaneously reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, aligning with carbon reduction goals. The Water Retail Company’s integrated approach includes a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment, evaluating emissions associated with water usage and wastewater management. Our billing system includes CO2e emissions calculations based on the GHG Protocol and UK Government GHG Conversion Factors, enabling businesses to report on the carbon footprint of their water and wastewater.
Benchmarking and target setting are two very important components of water reporting. Businesses can compare their water consumption against industry benchmarks, helping them understand their relative performance. By facilitating trend analysis, they can track their consumption year-on-year, even as business operations scale. Normalisation of consumption figures ensures that performance metrics remain meaningful and accurate by accounting for variations in business operations and external factors, allowing for fair comparisons over time. For example, a hotel that has tripled in size may show higher total water use, but normalised data may show improvements in water consumption per guest or per available room. Many businesses are striving to become water neutral, meaning they offset their water consumption through conservation and replenishment efforts. To support this, businesses can set and achieve meaningful water reduction targets. We assist companies in defining tailored reduction goals based on historical data and industry benchmarks, ensuring their targets are both ambitious and achievable.
Important considerations
Businesses in the UK are increasingly required to report on their water usage and its environmental impact. Regulations such as the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework and the UK’s Net Zero Strategy emphasise the importance of transparency in resource management. Failure to comply can result in fines, reputational damage, and missed opportunities for growth. Our water reporting and disclosure service ensures that your business stays ahead of regulatory requirements.
Consumers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding greater accountability from businesses when it comes to environmental stewardship. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainable water management can enhance your brand reputation, build trust with stakeholders, and differentiate you from competitors. With our service, you can showcase your water efficiency initiatives, highlight your progress toward sustainability goals, and communicate your efforts transparently.
Water reporting is not just about compliance and reputation, but a powerful tool for improving operational efficiency. By analysing water usage data, you can identify areas of waste, implement water-saving measures, and reduce costs. Our team works with you to develop tailored water efficiency strategies that leverage the latest technologies and best practices. From leak detection to smart metering, we help you optimise your water management and achieve measurable results.
Benefits for businesses
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Regulatory compliance
Water reporting and disclosure ensures adherence to evolving UK water industry regulations and international sustainability frameworks, reducing the risk of penalties and legal issues.
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Operational efficiency
Identifying inefficiencies and implementing water-saving measures enhances resource management, mitigates risks, and improves overall business performance.
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Cost reduction
Monitoring and optimising water usage helps lower operational costs, including water and energy bills.
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Enhanced reputation
Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability strengthens corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and builds trust with stakeholders.
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Sustainability
Reducing water consumption lowers energy use and carbon emissions, supporting environmental sustainability, meeting usage reduction targets and contributing to broader sustainability goals.
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Competitive advantage
Proactive water management differentiates and positions businesses as industry leaders in sustainability.
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Performance tracking
Analysing consumption data with applied normalisation enables businesses to track efficiency improvements over time, even as operations expand.
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Benchmarking
Comparing water usage against industry peers helps identify best practices and drive continuous improvement.
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Water neutrality
Optimised reporting and efficiency initiatives help companies set and achieve targets for water neutrality and long-term sustainability.
Verdict
Water reporting and disclosure is essential for businesses committed to sustainability and operational excellence. By understanding and disclosing water usage, organisations can achieve compliance, reduce costs, and enhance their environmental performance. The lack of standardisation in water reporting frameworks means businesses must carefully select metrics, benchmarks, and reporting methodologies that align with their unique needs and goals. On the other hand, the integration of carbon reporting further underscores the importance of water management in achieving net-zero targets. As regulatory pressures and stakeholder expectations continue to grow, businesses that prioritise water reporting and disclosure will be better positioned to thrive in a sustainability-driven future.
Partnering with The Water Retail Company
At The Water Retail Company, we provide expert water reporting and disclosure services, helping businesses navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance, sustainability commitments, and corporate responsibility. We utilise advanced reporting tools that integrate with our billing system, provide emissions data for carbon reporting and a holistic view of your environmental impact. Additionally, we recommend the most suitable metrics and normalisation mechanisms tailored to industry-specific needs, provide trend analysis and benchmarking against sector standards, water neutrality support, and regulatory compliance guidance. This all ensures accurate and audit-ready reporting, high disclosure practices, and an alignment with industry standards and sustainability frameworks.
Whether you’re looking to meet regulatory requirements, improve operational efficiency, or strengthen your corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile, our dedicated team is here to guide you every step of the way. Water reporting and disclosure is an opportunity to drive positive change for your business and the environment.
Contact us today to understand how we can support your water reporting and disclosure needs. By partnering with us, businesses can enhance their water efficiency strategies, meet disclosure obligations, and contribute to long-term sustainability.