Global Water Tool is a free, Excel-based assessment tool developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that helps companies map water use and assess water-related risks across their operations and supply chains.
This practical tool enables businesses to understand their water footprint and identify water-stressed regions where their operations or suppliers are located, supporting sustainable water management decisions.
Key Features
- Excel-Based Interface: Easy-to-use spreadsheet tool requiring no specialized software
- Global Water Risk Mapping: Identify water stress levels for any geographic location worldwide
- Supply Chain Assessment: Evaluate water risks across complex global supply chains
- Risk Indicators: Multiple water risk metrics including scarcity, quality, and regulatory factors
- Company Water Footprint: Calculate direct and indirect water consumption
- Scenario Planning: Assess water risks under different future scenarios
Assessment Categories
- Physical Water Scarcity: Availability of freshwater resources relative to demand
- Water Quality Issues: Pollution levels and treatment infrastructure adequacy
- Regulatory and Governance Risks: Legal frameworks and enforcement capabilities
- Reputation and Social Risks: Community and stakeholder water concerns
- Economic Water Scarcity: Financial and infrastructure barriers to water access
Applications
- Corporate Water Strategy: Develop comprehensive water management strategies
- Supply Chain Risk Management: Identify high-risk suppliers and regions
- Investment Decision Making: Assess water risks for new facilities or acquisitions
- Sustainability Reporting: Support water-related disclosures and reporting
- Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate water stewardship efforts to investors and communities
- Operational Planning: Prioritize water efficiency and conservation initiatives
How It Works
- Data Input: Enter facility locations, water consumption data, and supply chain information
- Risk Assessment: Tool automatically maps locations against global water risk indicators
- Results Analysis: Review water risk scores and identify high-priority areas
- Action Planning: Use results to develop targeted water management strategies
- Monitoring: Regular updates to track progress and changing risk conditions
Use Cases
- Manufacturing Companies: Assess water risks at production facilities globally
- Retail and Consumer Goods: Evaluate agricultural supply chain water risks
- Food and Beverage: Address water scarcity in ingredient sourcing regions
- Technology Companies: Assess water use in data centers and manufacturing
- Financial Institutions: Screen portfolio companies for water-related risks
- Consultants: Support client water risk assessments and sustainability projects
Benefits
- Free and Accessible: No licensing fees or complex software requirements
- Globally Applicable: Covers water risk data for countries worldwide
- Business-Focused: Designed specifically for corporate water management needs
- Actionable Insights: Provides clear risk rankings to guide decision-making
- Industry Recognition: Widely used and trusted by global corporations
The Global Water Tool provides companies with essential insights to build water resilience and contribute to sustainable water management in an increasingly water-stressed world.
- Policy Planning: Support evidence-based policy development
- Research: Access standardized data for scientific studies
- Business Intelligence: Inform strategic business decisions
- Educational Use: Support learning and capacity building
Getting Started
- Visit the platform at the provided link
- Explore available features and data layers
- Select your area of interest for analysis
- Access relevant data for your specific needs
- Export or integrate results into your workflow
Use Cases
- Climate risk assessment for businesses and organizations
- Environmental impact evaluation for projects
- Research and analysis for academic and scientific purposes
- Policy development and regulatory compliance
- Educational and training applications
Global Water Tool provides essential capabilities for understanding and addressing climate and nature-related challenges in today's changing world.
