Water use diagnosis, WPI and reduction plan in 3 seconds.

ISO 14001 is a generic environmental management standard that includes water as one of the environmental aspects to control, without going into methodological detail. ISO 46001, published in 2019, is specific to the efficient management of water use: it defines how to identify significant water uses, how to calculate Water Performance Indicators (WPI), how to establish baselines and reduction targets, and how to structure water action plans. The two standards are complementary and can be integrated into a single management system, but ISO 46001 provides a depth of water management methodology that ISO 14001 does not achieve.

Clause 6.3 of ISO 46001 requires the organisation to conduct a water use review. This diagnosis includes: identifying all water entry, use and exit points in the facilities; quantifying volumes consumed by process or area; identifying significant water uses (SWU) based on current consumption, improvement potential and relevant factors (temperature, pressure, quality); establishing the water baseline (clause 6.5) as a performance reference; and determining appropriate Water Performance Indicators (WPI) for each process. IgeraIndustria answers what data is required and how to structure the review report.

Water Performance Indicators (WPI) are the metrics defined in ISO 46001 (clause 6.4) to measure water use performance. A WPI relates the volume of water consumed to a relevant production variable: for example, m³ of water per tonne produced, m³ per unit manufactured, or m³ per employee-day in facilities. The standard does not impose specific WPIs; each organisation must select those that are representative of its process. To calculate them correctly it is necessary to define the reference period, the boundaries of the measurement system, the metering points and the normalisation factors (such as temperature or seasonal production) that may affect consumption independently of the improvements implemented.

ISO 46001 clause 6.3.3 establishes that the organisation must determine its Significant Water Uses (SWU) considering: the volume of water consumed (processes with higher consumption are more likely to be significant), the potential for efficiency improvement (processes where there is real scope for reduction), and the relevant factors that influence consumption (equipment, shifts, raw materials). SWUs must be updated when processes or facilities change. They are the starting point for prioritising water objectives and action plans. IgeraIndustria identifies SWUs from consumption data for each facility and generates the priority matrix.

According to ISO 46001 clause 6.6, the water action plan must include for each objective: the specific improvement actions (water reuse, equipment optimisation, leak elimination, closed circuits), the resources required, the assigned responsible person, the implementation deadline, the verification method for the improvement and the reference WPI to measure the impact. The standard requires that action plans are consistent with water objectives (clause 6.5.2) and that their progress is reviewed in the management review (9.3). IgeraIndustria generates action plan templates adapted to the SWUs identified in each facility.

In an ISO 46001 certification or customer audit, auditors primarily verify: the existence and update of the water use review (6.3) with real consumption data; that SWUs are identified and WPIs are representative; that the water baseline is established and updated (6.5); that water objectives are measurable and consistent with the water policy (6.5.2); the status of action plans (6.6) with responsible persons and deadlines; consumption measurement records at the defined metering points (clause 9.1); and management review minutes with water performance analysis. IgeraIndustria prepares the required documentation for each of these points.