1-16. Water Efficiency Management Standard ISO 46001: Overview and Practical Application

ISO 46001 is an international standard published in 2019 that sets out requirements for "water efficiency management systems" aimed at the sustainable use of water resources. In recent years, water resource scarcity has become a global issue due to climate change, population growth, and industrialization, and there is an increasing need for companies and local governments to improve the efficiency and responsible management of water use. ISO 46001 is consistent with ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environment), and provides a framework for continuously improving an organization's water use efficiency based on the PDCA cycle.

The core element of the standard is the establishment of a baseline and performance indicators (Water Performance Indicators (WPIs)) for water usage. Organizations must first identify the amount of water used, discharged, and reused in their business activities and determine a base year. They are then required to set specific targets for improving water usage efficiency and quantitatively monitor progress. For example, in the manufacturing industry, water usage per product unit could be set as a KPI, and improvements would be evaluated at regular intervals.

Furthermore, ISO46001 goes beyond simply reducing water usage and emphasizes a risk-based approach. It requires the formulation of a long-term water management strategy that takes into consideration water resource supply risks (droughts and tightening regulations), water quality risks (effluent standards and impact on the surrounding environment), and social evaluations from stakeholders. Understanding water usage throughout the entire supply chain is particularly essential for global companies in order to maintain their competitiveness.

The first step in practical application is to understand the current situation and establish a data collection system. By installing water meters at each factory or business location and collecting and analyzing data by use (manufacturing process, cooling, cleaning, etc.), it is possible to clarify areas for improvement. After that, specific improvement measures can be implemented, such as installing water-saving equipment, reusing cooling water and wastewater, and utilizing rainwater. These activities are directly linked to energy and cost reductions, so another benefit is that they are easy to gain the understanding of management.

Furthermore, ISO46001 can be integrated with other management standards. For example, combining it with ISO14001 enables comprehensive management of environmental impact reduction, and linking it with ISO50001 (energy management) enables optimization of water and energy efficiency at the same time. Introducing it as an integrated management system allows for centralization of internal audits and management reviews, which also leads to reduced operational costs.

The certification process consists of the following steps: (1) formulating a policy and establishing a system, (2) setting standards and formulating indicators, (3) implementing an improvement plan, (4) internal audit and review, and (5) external audit. The external audit in particular places strict demands on the reliability of data and the effectiveness of improvements, so thorough documentation and record management are essential.

In conclusion, ISO 46001 is not just a water-saving standard, but a tool for systematically promoting "water efficiency management" as part of a sustainable management strategy. As water resource constraints become more apparent, it is an important standard for Japanese companies to maintain their international competitiveness, and early adoption and active utilization are required.