Introduction to ISO 14046

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Eng. Majd Shatnawi BSc in Civil Engineering/ Soil and Geotechnical Engineering Jordan University of Science and Technology. Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) Background A water footprint is determined by one or more metrics that quantify the potential environmental impact on water of a product, process or organization. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is developing the International Standard ISO 14046, Environmental management – Water footprint – Principles, requirements and guidelines, which intends to provide decision makers in industry, government and non-governmental organizations with a means to estimate the potential impact of water use and pollution, based on a life-cycle assessment. Water footprint – A positive influence on trade: Water is a scarce and valuable commodity which, in terms of trade and economics, is sometimes referred to as “blue gold”. Managing it efficiently is key to achieving the common goal of sustainability. Recognizing the economic and social benefits to trade that International Standards can bring, ISO 14046 can have a positive impact by providing a harmonized framework for the quantification and reporting of water footprints. Benefits of a water footprint assessment A water footprint assessment can help in: • assessing the magnitude of potential environmental impacts related to water; • identifying ways to reduce potential water-related impacts of products at various lifecycle stages, and of processes and organizations; • facilitating water efficiency and optimization of water management at product, process and organizational levels; • providing scientifically consistent and reliable information for reporting water footprint results. Using ISO 14046 The requirements and recommendations given in ISO 14046 provide elements for understanding how water use can be improved by accounting for the volumes used and quantifying scarcity and pollution, as well as other related impacts. When applying ISO 14046, societal, environmental, legal, cultural, political and organizational diversity should be considered, as well as differences in economic conditions.

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