This document provides an overview of available metrics for assessing water use impacts and current initiatives integrating these metrics within life cycle assessment (LCA). It discusses the need for consistency in the scope and type of water impacts measured. The document outlines a framework for assessing freshwater use in LCA, including accounting, impact assessment, and communication. It presents results of a new method for characterizing human health impacts and calculating compensation volumes required for different production scenarios. Future developments are noted, such as evaluating impacts based on water functionalities and modeling compensation scenarios.
[2024]Digital Global Overview Report 2024 Meltwater.pdf
1.1 Manuele Margni
1. Behind the Water Footprint Stream - Metrics and InitiativesOverview of available metrics to asses potential impacts of water use and current initiatives integrating them within LCA ManueleMargni, Ph.D. Scientificcoordinator, CIRAIG Ecole Polytechnique Montréal manuele.margni@polymtl.ca (Incl. materialprovided by Quantis)
2. CIRAIG Factsheet Founded in 2000 Multidisciplinary world-renowned research centre 135+ professors, researchers and students 10 universities, 7 Chairs, 5 research units Member of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative Numerous collaborations (Canada, USA, Europe) 120+ applied research projects (industry and gov.) Official spin-off Expertise: Carbon and Water footprint LCA Company-based LCA and sustainability dashboard Ecodesign Environmental communication www.quantis-intl.com 2
13. Framework for Freshwater use In LCA (UNEP-SETAC LC Initiative) Endpoint Midpoint Inventory Areas of Protection All Impact Categories Backup Technology Water deprivation for human uses Human Health Human uses Modification of water availability for… Water deprivation for ecosystems Water Use Water Use Ecosystems Quality Ecosystems Water deprivation for future generations Natural resources Future Generations
14. Human Health Impacts from production of board in Hanoi for different scenarios 12
15. ... Avoid Taking the Wrong Decision 13 Spatial variation of blue water consumption bioenergycrop production within Spain at two different levels: Impact AssessmentInventory accounting (Source: Nunez Montserrat, SETAC EU 2010)
16. UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative International initiative for LCA Review and characterization of existing accounting and Impact assessment methods Recommendations (end 2010) for: Science Practitioners (incl. industry) Contact: ManueleMargni, CIRAIG SebastienHumbert, Quantis 14
17. Towards an International Standard for Water Footprinting “Water Footprint: Principles, Requirements and Guidances” International standard for water footprinting This International Standard specifies requirements and guidelines to assess and report water footprint based on LCA Terminology, communication Important stages to consider Consistency with carbon footprinting and other LCA impact categories Scope, system boundary Review/Validation Reporting Began 2009, end 2011 Towards industry and practitioners
24. Risks associated with water use: Water pollution Ground water over exploitation Reduced availability for nutrition Risks associated with water use: Water rights Water pollution Ground water over exploitation Risks associated with water use: Water pollution Risks associated with water use: Water pollution Ground water over exploitation River drying Greenhouse gases emissions Greenhouse gases emissions (from deforestation) Water use (including “green water”) Water impact (human health and ecosystems) Regionalization of impacts
25. Geen Water LCI 23 (Source: Nunez Montserrat, SETAC EU 2010)
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39. Inventory in the model The method assesses the impacts of the water withdrawal and credits the impacts of the water release HHimpact = Human health impacts in Daly CFi = Characterization factor for water type i for the impact category Human Health (in Daly/m3 of water type i consumed) Vi = Volume of water type i – inventory value (in m3), positive value for water withdrawn and negative value for released flows 26
43. Direct impacts on Human Health i: Scarcity of water class i (dimensionless) Di,j: User j distribution of water class i (dimensionless) AC : Adaptation capacity (dimensionless) Ej: Effect factor for user j (DALY/m³) Characterisation factor for water i (DALY/m3) EFFECT FATE EXPOSURE 28
46. Based on 1) Quality of the water : its functionality 2) Geographical region :intensity of each activity in that region 30
47. Direct impacts on HumanHealth – Adaptation Capacity 100% compensation Proportional adaptation No compensation Proportional adaptation 31
48. Direct impacts on HumanHealth – Effect Factor Ej= Effect factor for user j (daly/m3) HealthBurden by kcal malnutrition* (Daly/kcal) Efish/agriculture = (DALY/m3) Water requirement per kcal (m3/kcal) Health Impacts from water related issues* (Daly/yr) Edomestic = (DALY/m3) Water in deficit for domestic use* (m3/yr) * Data by country, geometric average used to produce resulting Effect factor 32
51. Using GIS for combining scale 0.5° x 0.5° grid Water consumption Water availability 808 Resulting cells All data 227 Main Watersheds Some quality data 208 countries Adaptation capacity Some quality data Some statistical data 34
The proposed International Standard will deliver principles, requirements and guidelinesfor a water footprint metric of products, processes and organisations, based on the guidance of impact assessment as given in ISO 14044. It will define how the different types of water sources (for example ground, surface, lake, river, green, blue, gray, etc.) should be considered, how the different types of water releases should be considered, and how the local environmental conditions (dry areas, wet areas) should be treated. For products, it will apply the life cycle approach and will be based on the same product system as specified in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. At the organisation level, it will consider the guidance given by ISO 14064 for greenhouse gases. The standard will also address the communication issues linked to the water footprint
Examples of 3 regions embedded? St-Laurence, quebec, canada?
