C5. Water Management

Code 8.0

Participants shall implement a water management program that documents, characterizes, and monitors water sources, use and discharge; seeks opportunities to conserve water; and controls channels of contamination. All wastewater shall be characterized, monitored, controlled, and treated as required prior to discharge or disposal. Participants shall conduct routine monitoring of the performance of its wastewater treatment and containment systems to ensure optimal performance and regulatory compliance.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure the facility environmental policy includes water management elements including:

• a. Adequate and effective procedures are in place to document, characterize, and monitor water sources, water discharge and control channels of contamination.
• b. Should cover: Use reduction / recycling, storage, treatment, discharge.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. Water withdrawal
  • i. The source of water is clear.
  • ii. A water use baseline and adequate and effective annual reduction plan is implemented with objectives and corrective action plans if the implementation is off track.
  • iii. Annual reduction program should not harm workers or entail excessive cost.
• b. Water discharge
  • i. Adequate and effective process to track, review, and approve the discharge of all water.
  • ii. Industrial and/or sanitary wastewater is treated in accordance with permit requirements.
  • iii. Wastewater characterization and response information is available at the points of use and storage in a language understood by the worker.
  • iv. Appropriate process wastewater treatment systems are installed and maintained that minimize the pollutant contribution of each of its facilities include:
    1. A routine preventive maintenance program
    2. System efficiency monitoring program
    3. A program to evaluate the integrity of existing wastewater systems.
  • v. Emergency response actions are defined in case the on-site wastewater treatment system exceeds its capacity or if it malfunctions.
• c. Equipment such as tanks, piping, and storage vessels are compatible with the waste materials being stored and transported.
• d. All transport and disposal vendors have been approved, have current certificates, and/or are licensed by the local regulatory authorities.
• e. Water channels are protected from contamination (e.g., absence of pools of standing water and grease/oil slicks near storm drains).
• f. At least one person responsible for all aspects of wastewater process discharge including treatment, water channel contamination prevention and water-related emergency response and reporting activities.
• g. Engineering and administrative systems for improved resource efficiency; reducing emissions, adhere to the hierarchy of resource efficiency when feasible, showing preference (in order) for the following functions:
  • i. Prevention: unnecessary consumptive processes are eliminated
  • ii. Minimization: Process efficiency is improved
  • iii. Substitution: Using a more environmentally benign or renewable approach or resource
  • iv. Reuse, recycling, recovery: In that order, in order to maximize the benefit of resource consumption.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. Program to evaluate the integrity of existing wastewater systems:
  • i. Regularly test the wastewater system
  • ii. Correct any identified deficiencies immediately.
• b. Adequate and effective procedures to control internal water channel contamination include:
  • i. Potential contamination sources to water channels are identified.
  • ii. Adequate and effective emergency response plan to control water channel contamination.
  • iii. Appropriate emergency response equipment inspection and maintenance process
  • iv. Investigation of past spills/water channel contamination and corrective/preventive action plan

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Identified water channel contamination sources.
• b. Description of spills/water channel contamination for past 3 years
• c. Preventive/corrective action plan for past spills/contamination
• d. Additional actions are taken to ensure completion at the due date if corrective actions are not on track.
• e. Accurate wastewater inventory records are maintained and available for review.
• f. Inspection records of wastewater and their points of storage are maintained and available for review.
• g. Copies of wastewater manifests and shipping/discharge papers are maintained and available for review.
• h. Documents only vendors approved and/or licensed by the local regulatory authorities for transporting are used.
• i. Annual reduction targets, progress monitoring and corrective actions plans if applicable.

5. Leading Practices

Leading Practices include:

• a. Understanding where the municipal or private company service withdraws its water.
• b. A water risk assessment that considers competitive use, water quality, and scarcity has been conducted in the last 3 years for the facility's location using reference tools such as:
  • i. WWF Water Risk Filter
  • ii. WRI Aqueduct
  • iii. WBCSD Global Water Tool
  • iv. The Water Footprint assessment Tool
  • v. GEMI Local Water Tool

1.0.0 (2024-01-01)

Changed

• Initial release for RBA Code of Conduct 8.0: Comprehensive criterion covering water management program implementation, conservation, discharge treatment, contamination control, and risk assessment aligned with ISO 14001 and CEO Water Mandate.