European Water Partnership commits to support the further development and implementation of the European Water Stewardship standard in order to further responsible water use  by defining a system of clear steps towards sustainable water management at operational and river basin levels.

Commitment type

Support a solution

What type is your commitment ?
Behaviour change
Other : EWS delivers an integrative and on-site tested system that provides targeted steps to change the behavior and practices of water users towards sustainable water governance.
When will you complete your commitment ?
The EWS is at present already available as voluntary system and implemented at industrial and agricultural production sites throughout Europe.
Commitment description

European Water Partnership commits to support the further development and implementation of the European Water Stewardship standard in order to further responsible water use  by defining a system of clear steps towards sustainable water management at operational and river basin levels. The EWS:

  • Initiates private actions with independent guidance.
  • Provides positive incentives for sustainable water management.
  • Helps companies to communicate its successful implementation and achievements at operational level.
  • Supports existing legal processes in the European Union.

The European Water Stewardship (EWS) includes a standard, a certification and communication scheme that makes “business sense” for adherents; mitigating physical, regulatory and reputational risks; and offering tried-and-tested steps to secure water availability in future.

The EWS also embodies the collective effort and know-how of water users in agriculture and industry. The EWS has been committed to follow the “Water Vision for Europe” by defining a system of clear steps towards sustainable water management at operational and river basin levels. The “Water Vision for Europe” desires to unite and stimulate people and stakeholders to act in partnership in order to solve Europe’s water problems and to contribute to solutions that will address the global water crisis.

 

EWP is also committed to:

- finalize its agriculture, industry and airport pilots of the standard by 2013

- To develop group certification schemes

-To give input for the global standard, to be launched by 2013

- To continue communicating Sustainable Water Management by participating to actively to relevant Water Forums, Conferences and Stakeholder Consultations

 

More specifically, within the next two years, the EWS commits:

-  To have disseminated EWS in all European Member States, by means of projects, business to business correspondence, outreach and certification. This means that:

  • A change in behavior and practices of water use, management and governance is promoted.
  • Initiation of joint or individual response strategies of water users aiming for water management improvements at local and river basin level are promoted.

 

-  To have at least 100 production sites EWS certified in the next two years, spread over at least 10 European Member States; which also means that:

  •  These production sites get pro-actively prepared for the implementation of the European Water Framework directive (WFD) and other water related EU legislation.
  •  A tool is provided to continuously monitor their operational water performance and to intervene where critical points are identified.
  •  The water use on production site and river basin level is optimized.
  •  An integrated sustainable water (resource) management is defined and implemented at the production site.
  •  A tool is in place to communicate water management improvements and achievements at operational level.
How will you monitor your commitment ?

1) Yearly, a work plan is developed in which the objectives are defined. By the end of each year the achievements of the objectives are evaluated by the EWS Steering Committee.

 

2) The EWS provides the possibility for voluntary third-party certification of the operations’ water management performance. The certification bodies involved, will support to upscale the EWS implementation process. Consultancies – together with the EWS coordination office – will become EWS trainers for the water user, guiding them towards successful EWS implementation. EWS will approve and ensure the high quality of these parties involved by thorough training and supervision. The number of certified production sites will be monitored on a permanent basis, and their water performance will be yearly verified by the certification body.

 

3) In addition, the EWS standard can be used as self-assessment tool by water users with which they can continuously monitor their water management performance on-site and improve/intervene where necessary.


Do you want others to join/support your commitment ?
Yes
You commit
as an organisation
First name

Sabine

Last name

von Wiren-Lehr, Dr.

Name of your organisation

European Water Partnership, for the EWP Program European Water Stewardship (EWS)

Type of organisation
Association, NGO, Foundation, Charity,…
Country

Belgium