How to Estimate Water Footprint for IT Companies?

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I am a sustainability and environmental engineer working for L&T. 

I am looking for ways to reduce the water footprint at organisation level. 

Where can I find data for water consumption per person for IT companies and design centres? 

How does the water consumption differ based on the cooling systems the companies are using? If you have any data or formulas to estimate the water footprint, please share. 

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14 Answers

  2. Dear Phadke,

    The water footprint of an individual is the amount of water they use in and around their home, school or office throughout the day. It includes the water used directly, like that from a tap as well as the water used indirectly, like the water it took to produce the food they eat, the products they buy, the energy they consume and even the water they save by recyclingThe water footprint allows us to answer a broad range of questions for companies, governments and individuals.

     For example:

     

    1. Where is the water dependence in my company’s operations or supply chain?

    2. How well are regulations protecting our water resources?

    3. How secure are our food or energy supplies?

    4. Can I do something to reduce my own water footprint and help us manage water for both people and nature?

    ​start looking ​for ways and ​means to reduce ​the water ​consumption, ​which can be by ​way of reducing ​leakage, ​avoidable uses, ​consider to use ​/ reuse fresh ​water and To use water tap like railways.For detection of underground leakages ultrasound may be used.

     

    There is lot ​which can be ​done for large ​entity to ​reduce ​consumption of ​water, energy ​and increase ​the use of ​alternative ​energy in ​systematic ​manner over a ​period. ​

  4. Hii .. water consumption would basically be a differential of the water intake vis a vis the discharge. The difference would amount to consumption for the unit. To start with you would need to measure the total water input into your unit but care has to be taken for accounting for services which are rendered by 3rd party and you are not responsible for its operation. like central AC system where water is consumed in the cooling tower as makeup. 

    consumption can either be in the form of evaporation loss or imbibed in the product or physically lost due to leakage. 

    do let me know if you need any further info. subhendu biswas

  5. Maybe you should install flow meters and monitor them, after you find how many water comes from where, then you can implement an effective solution.

     

  6. It is good to know your concerns. I have also worked on water issues in agriculture sector. For IT sector as mentioned, i think you need to have database in respect of number of persons, computing m/s ,accessories and hardwares, comsumable items etc. and also life span of each item as per replacement required.. Then from the manufacturing units the water needs for each item could be obtained. Work on the items using high water and possibilities amy be looked into how to enhance th efficiency of the macines etc. for reducing there needs and the Water Foot print reduction can be worked out.

    A K Jain

  7. Dear Mr Phadke

    In order to start activity, first you can consider to start with water supply and thereafter major water consuming units. Look at the water supply trend data over a period. This will give you idea of consumption pattern based on season etc.

    Thereafter start looking for ways and means to reduce the water consumption, which can be by way of reducing leakage, avoidable uses, consider to use / reuse fresh water and so on.

    There is lot which can be done for large entity to reduce consumption of water, energy and increase the use of alternative energy in systematic manner over a period.

    In case if you need further information / assistance, please feel free to revert back

     

    CA Mahaveer Jain

    +91 9768123725

    E-Efficiency Management Consultancy Pvt Ltd

    Mumbai

  8. The point where you start should be your water account. This should give you the volume consumed on site. But that's only the start and doesn't break things up enough to actually change anything. I've been working with mines who have recently had to reduce their water consumption (not footprint) in the face of a severe drought in South Africa. What they have found to be most effective has been the installation of meters within their operation, as a way of measuring consumption in various parts of their operation, often with surprising findings.

    That's the first part. Looking at the supply-chain footprint is a lot more difficult. I imagine that we will eventually reach a point where the water, carbon and other environmental footprints are available for all the products we consume, but we're a long way off there. To make matters worse, the companies who do have this information and make it available are generally the large multinationals, so requiring this information can stifle local economic development. Nevertheless, there are available databases containing this type of information, either as footprints or as inputs into life-cycle assessment. These generally have international as well as some national information, which may help. It's a very big job in an organisation with a complex supply chain.

     

  9. Author of three articles that allow desalination of seawater, potassium recovery and energy production: see David Publishing Company (journal of chemistry and chemical engineering and journal of Environmental Science and Engineering A) New method for desalination of seawater 2) Other seawater desalination Method 3) Another seawater desalination Process. These articles can also be seen on the Academia.edu network. You will notice that in these works, the more you desalt water the more you have a positive impact, ie the more energy you have, the more trees you can plant to reduce greenhouse gases

  11. Hello Kaustubh,

    I liked the answer offered by Dave Johnstone , very much reflecting my own thinking. I'd point you additionally  here.

    Most of the water cooling usually used in IT are close circuits employed in cooling of IT equipment. I doubt one would tap water and run it through heat exchangers and then spill it out. You may average that water consumption eventually. 

    Water consumption is usually statistically published.  You may want to see this. It varies tremendously from country to country.

    If your company provide to the stuff more than tap water, you may consider in estimating daily shower consumption, daily dishwasher water use, etc. I'd give a better rule: estimate amount of  wastewater your company would generate in order to deliver a product, or to exist. 

    Think of drinking water, wash water, toilet flushing, give a first estimation and hit a spreadsheet of your own estimation :) 

     

    Good Luck!

     

     

  14. Hi Kaustubh, I hope this helps..

    Saying you are estimating your organizations water footprint would imply that you are estimating the consumption of water across your supply chain. This is a very difficult thing to do and does not look like what you are doing from the other information you are looking for. Maybe reconsider what you are doing..

    Benchmarks like consumption per person & cooling in IT can be misleading and also close peoples minds to what may be possible. A lot of "quoted" data is for building design purposes & hence conservative. Then there are technical issues which drive consumption which are difficult to normalize for different circumstances. For example the water consumed for cooling would be a function of the demand you need to satisfy (the heat you need to remove), the climatic conditions, the water quality, condition of the equipment, the behavior of people etc.

    Assuming you are simply "looking for ways to ​reduce the ​water  consumption ​at organization ​level" I would suggest a different approach. Measure what you consume and put this into perspective and directly meaningful to your employees. For example (and apologies for another possibly bad assumption L&T means Larson & Toubro in India) Per employee how much water do you consume compared to the average inhabitant of India, or how many they may be depriving of water. Then engage them in how they can individually make a difference but be ready with "levers" (things they can do & influence) and a score board of how they are doing.

    1 Comment

    1. Dear Dave - @Dave Johnstone 

      Many thanks for your inputs. It is indeed valuable. I am from Larsen & Toubro, India. We have done the water footprint mapping and also made quite good progress in reducing water consumption. I am looking for per person domestic water consumption in IT sector. In india the norms for water supply in residential area is 135 liters/person/day, however it varies from 50 lits to 150 lit/persons/day in cities and within localities. 

      I am looking for a benchmark in IT industry for per person water consumption. An employee spends average 8 to 10 hrs in office and IT unit has other recreational facilities for employees as well. We already have segregated pipelines and meters (fresh & recycled water) and measure the consumption (at some places on hourly basis) and have reduced water intensity at company level by 12% in last three years (more details at sustainabilityreport.larsentoubro.com). I intend to set a target and need to decide with technical inputs rather than assumptions. As for CO2 and energy their are quantified targets (for absolute and intensity values), however for water these are missing.

      Hence your further inputs are encouraged on water footprint. 

      Regards,

      Kaustubh