The GWT is a massive database that renders relevant facts on water information with respect to local communities. Water is a fundamental business asset. Accurately accessing risk management and implementing effective strategies requires a t user-friendly tool for major corporations with high water needs in their supply chain network.

The GTW was developed to provide corporations with important water statistics for the sustainability of their business and the environment. In 2007, the GWT was launched. Now, over 300 corporations access the various datasets, charts and information available via the GWT. It maps water use and calculates projected water availability in specific regions of the world.

Data on the GWT includes input from reputable sources such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Aquastat, the International Water Management Institute, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund Joint Monitoring Program, and other sources.

Statistics on urban annual growth rates, the environmental water scarcity index by basin and projected total annual renewable water resources per inhabitant by 2025 and 2050 are featured on the GWT. Investing in a new plant that is estimated to operate in an area for over ten years must be considered against points about urban growth rates, and projected water availability for future production ventures. If they weren’t, investors and corporations would be allotting funds to projects that may not be worth the initial financial output. The GWT enables companies to invest safely and to execute business practices soundly.

These datasets allow corporations to make major financial decisions with respect to launching new plants in particular areas of the world. Corporations can review these datasets and consider necessary modifications to existing water and wastewater policies. Corporations can now invest in supply chain operations responsibly, environmentally and economically.

The GWT gives important reports on water availability, water quality and water stress in regions of the world. Water stress is calculated when population, environment, and agriculture are factored into water availability measures.

Irrigated agriculture accounts for 70 percent of the world’s water use. If a supply chain functions in an area close to irrigated agriculture, these corporations must be aware of the water used by nearby farmers. Then, corporations can partner with local farmers on water conservation techniques.

Tangible facts about safe drinking water access and sanitation systems are also provided by the GWT. When considering employee safety and health conditions, employers can not overlook crucial analysis of safe drinking water and sanitation systems in local areas.

Unsafe drinking water and faulty sanitation systems is a major risk to employee health. Corporations will lose labor due to mortality and sickness from water-borne diseases and poor hygiene. Moreover, corporations can be penalized for violating international or domestic codes for workers rights if these amenities are not in place prior to the start of operations.

Advancement in water management methods and reliable empirical evidence on the status of water throughout the world is an invaluable addition to the field of corporate social responsibility and international business.

Corporations in water stressed areas can accurately quantify their water needs and qualify suitable follow up action to sustain renewable water resources for their enterprises.

The GWT has incredible potential for risk assessment strategy and increasing awareness about the global water crisis. When water becomes tied into business and profitability, investors and policy makers will begin to take the global water crisis more seriously.

There’s only so much water on the planet and major corporations need it to increase their profit margins.  Hopefully, corporations utilize the GWT to its fullest extent and share best practices on sustainable water resource management. If so, there is hope for a sustainable future.

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Hugh Share is AB InBev’s Global Director, Beer & Better World. In an interview, Share told WaterWideWeb, “High quality water is fundamental to our business. It’s the principal ingredient in our beers and soft drinks”.

Water is used in the beer brewing process, for cleaning materials, and steam production. To ensure quality products and a future market for them, AB InBev must use water responsibly. The AB InBev company is a participant of the UN CEO Water Mandate. When it comes to saving water, they mean business—sustainable and profitable business.

AB InBev is taking concrete steps in order to fulfill their vision of becoming the Best Beer Company in a Better World. Reaching this lofty goal requires concentrated effort and consistent internal oversight of industrial water and waste water management policies.

Sustainability management practices are advised by the Voyager Plant Optimization (VPO) global management system. This three pillar plan aims to increase brewing efficiency while decreasing monetary and environmental costs. The VPO assures that water consumption levels are in sync with the Environmental Policy and Strategies adhered to by AB InBev.

“Our global water usage target is 3.5 hectoliters of water for each hectoliter of production by the end of 2012”, confirmed Share. AB InBev breweries are sharing best practices in water conservation to ensure that each brewery is consistently improving on water use practices.

Industrial waste water management is a key issue companies such as AB InBev must carefully consider. Treating industrial waste water is crucial to protecting local communities where breweries and plants are located.

Untreated industrial waste water that is released into the environment can have dire consequences for agriculture and livestock in communities close to industrial plants. When it comes to industrial waste water treatment and disposal, global corporations can never be too careful or responsible.

AB InBev utilizes either an on-site pretreatment followed by a municipal water treatment process or only a municipal water treatment to control its industrial waste water quality. Reliance on only municipal water treatment can be inconsistent and leaves quality control out of the hands of developers at AB InBev.

In 2010, AB InBev built or upgraded 12 biotreatment systems, with an additional 20 scheduled by 2012. Currently, 25 breweries use Bio-Energy Brewery Systems (BERS) that capture methane leftover from the brewing process. This methane is then used to produce steam needed in other facets of the beer brewing process.

A corporation is only as sustainable as its grassroots employees. “A key aspect of our water saving approach is engaging our employees at all levels to indentify water saving opportunities”, continued Share. Realistically, a corporation could execute innumerable sustainable development initiatives without making a single step of progress towards water conservation. Unless employees from the brewing process to the shipping department are educated on the best ways to conserve water, these efforts will be unfruitful.

AB InBev enlists the support of employees at all levels in the effort to save water. In 2010, the company celebrated the United Nations World Environment Day. Employees rolled up their sleeves and participated in over 550 facility and community projects. Over half of these projects were water focused and included a river cleanup program.

Thus far, progress has been measured in the decrease of water usage of AB InBev overtime. In 2009, AB InBev used 8.5 percent less hectoliters of water per unit than in 2008. The company has used 14.5 percent less water hectoliters of water per unit since 2007. The company will witness a 30 percent reduction in the company’s global water usage by the end of 2012.

In the world of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, terms such as water conservation and usage reduction can be nebulous phraseologies that should be qualified. When organizations assert that they have reduced water consumption, statistics should reflect if that number indicates a decreased level of initial water intake versus a decreased amount of water use from previous years.

AB InBev has an incredible opportunity to make a water world of difference in developing innovative strategies in water and wastewater management and conservation policy. In partnership with the UN CEO Water Mandate, AB InBev can further enhance the movement towards sustainability, bearing in mind the human right to water.

Standards established by AB InBev are rooted in global environment efforts to build a better world. Concrete action plans implemented by AB InBev can be enforced and steadily improved over time. Successful efforts by AB InBev and similar corporations will have a positive impact on local communities where breweries are located.

AB InBev encourages consumers to drink responsibly, and consuming water irresponsibly on their behalf would be hypocritical. From Bill in the brewery, to Sam in shipping, and the execs in global marketing, AB InBev can continuously reinvent the corporate sustainable wheel. Then, they will in fact provide better beer in a better world.

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Empowering Women with Water

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Peter Harvey, Senior Adviser of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), told WaterWideWeb, “Access to local water resources increases women’s opportunities and raises women’s rights in the developing world”.

In a survey conducted by UNICEF in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), survey results found that in 45 developing countries, 76 percent of those who collected water where either women or girls. “Reducing distance traveled or time spent collecting water will benefit women and girls far more than anyone else in the community,” said Harvey.

In sub-Saharan African, 25 percent of the female population spends roughly thirty minutes round trip gathering water on a daily basis. Water supply management at the community level is largely handled by women since their lives are impacted by access to water more than others.

“Clean water is a step toward hygiene promotion, which obviously is primarily linked to reduction to mortality”, continued Harvey. Hygiene within the school environment, at home, and with food is ultimately increased when no clean water is available.

When hygiene and health improve in local communities, women can invest well-being, time and energy saved in their entrepreneurial efforts.

Issues like poor hygiene or walking long distances to find clean water are manifestations of inequality and poverty. Initiatives that tackle infrastructural issues and public health concerns are noble, but a comprehensive action plan that specifically targets women’s hygiene is essential to promoting gender equality and empowering women.

If the end goal of development work is to build up communities, empowering women must not be underestimated. Fulfilling the MDGs will be enhanced if women are put at the forefront of the international development agenda. While experts are developing programs to dig water wells, allocating micro-finance loans and other economic development projects, interests in the sphere of women’s personal hygiene and health should not be overlooked.

Empowering women in all capacities demands an investment in their personal hygiene and health with clean water. A healthy woman is a confident woman. A confident woman is a cornerstone to her community, leading the way to economic prosperity and sustainability.

The photo above is UN Photo taken by Olivier Chassot

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The African Water Facility (AWF) is an organization launched in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AFDB) that finances and promotes sustainability projects to render water accessible to local population and therefore ameliorate their living conditions.  The AWF serves as a catalyzing force that collects all investments in order to render them profitable towards sustainable actions and projects for the water sector in Africa. The mission of this organization is to ‘” improve the enabling environment and strengthen water resources management in Africa by attracting the massive and appropriate investments necessary to achieve national and regional water objectives” (Source: http://www.africanwaterfacility.org/en/about-us/mission-and-mandate/). In addition, this organization’s mandate comprises the target of investments for infrastructure development projects, raising awareness about water issues, supporting the River Basin Organizations and establishing a method to evaluate the projects and their developments. The Governing Council of the AWF, comprised of thirteen members, establishes the general policies guiding the focus and direction of the organization. In addition, the council proposes areas of intervention and reviews the previous annual reports.

An interesting project approved by the AWF is the Formulation of Burundi’s Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan, supported by the AWF.  The goals of this project are to reduce poverty, consequently improving the well-being of the populations and “conserving vital natural resources through enhanced water governance” (Source: http://www.africanwaterfacility.org/fileadmin/uploads/awf/projects-activities/BURUND_IWRM_PLAN_APPRAISAL_RPT_FINAL.PDF). Despite popular belief, Burundi has abundant water resources, yet the problem arises due to a dramatically uneven distribution amongst the population. With the fervent increase for water, tension is escalatingin the country. In 1989, a National Commission of Water and Energy was created, yet this structure has stopped function since 1992. Since then, no other national structure to control water has been developed. The AWF has recognized the need to make an urgent change and therefore has accepted to sponsor part of the project.

Of course financing such projects wouldn’t be possible without the help of valuable partners like the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the World Water Council or the Global Water Partnership. The IUNC, one of the world’s largest conservation network that an equitable use of water as a fundamental vital resources. The NEPAD focuses on all the challenges facing the African continent, from poverty to social marginalization; the organization seek projects and sustainable interventions that can enhance the general well-being of the continent.

With so many actors involved, coordination and communication become the two fundamental milestones that can determine the success or failure of a long-term sustainable development project. Water is probably the most precious resource on earth and should be accessible to every human being as a right instead of being a privilege for a small minority. The African Water Facility is working in order to extend that privilege to those who need it the most.

Stretching across Israel, Jordan and the occupied West Bank, holds an important religious significance: “the Jordan river is believed by many to be the place where Jesus was baptized” (Source: http://geography.howstuffworks.com/oceans-and-seas/dead-sea-dead.htm). Its unique salty composition and the presence of heath enhancing minerals are known to have attracted important historical character such as King David and Cleopatra. Today the Dead Sea is still famous for the rejuvenating effect it has on bathers and its ability to improve the skin and the cure problems such as joint inflammation, arthritis, acne or eczema. Scientists seem to beilve that this is due in great part to the high salt concentration found in that sea. The mineral slats concentration is so high that “fish accidentally swimming into the water from on of the several freshwater streams that feed the Sea are killed instantly, their bodies quickly coated with a preserving layer of salt crystals” (Source: http://www.extremescience.com/zoom/index.php/earth-records/37-dead-sea). While the Dead Sea is deadly for fish and other marine creatures, for us adaptable humans it is completely safe. The density of the water is much more than that of plain regular water and for this reason a human body becomes more buoyant and floats. It is interesting to note that while the Dead Sea is constantly fed with water coming from near by rivers the salt is never drained out of the sea. Not even the process of evaporation manages to get the salt of of the Dead Sea. While the water evaporates, it leaves behind dissolved minerals.

According to experts, this source of fascination that attracts many tourists every year is at risk. An article in the New York Times confirms that “the water level is now dropping by more than three feet a year” (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/world/middleeast/05deadsea.html?_r=1). The dropping rate of water started around the 1960s, mostly due to the fact that Israel, Jordan and Syria started diverting the waters of the Jordan river, feeding the Dead Sea, for agriculture and other domestic purposes. In addition, the potash industries on the Israeli and Jordanian sides are also playing an important part in depleting the Dead Sea. A possible solution would be the construction and implementation of a water conduit connecting the Red Sea to the Dead Sea in order to create hydroelectricity, providing desalinated water to Jordan while also contributing to refill the Dead Sea. It appears that the World-Bank would be ready to sponsor such construction; yet, experts and environmentalists are worried about the potential consequences: “mixing the waters could result in an algae bloom that could give the Dead Sea a reddish hue” (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/world/middleeast/05deadsea.html?_r=1). Since it has been suffering from water scarcity, Jordan is particularly interested in the project and Israel seems to be supportive of the idea. Surprisingly Palestinian authorities signed the agreement for a World-Bank sponsored feasibility study and this pleases a great deal the Palestinians community that interprets that signature as a somewhat start to the recognition of Palestinians rights.

Close to 35 different kinds of mineral salts, from calcium, to magnesium without forgetting bromine, can be found in the Dead Sea. This concoction of salts is responsible for the Sea’s macabre name. Indeed any plant or living creatures that ends up in the salty waters dies immediately. Human beings are the only privileged living creatures that can happily float away without any consequences. In addition to attracting tourists and scientists from all over the world, the Dead Sea as become a rare symbol of regional cooperation, an exception to war, fighting and the incapacity to communicate. Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians seem to want to cooperate and communicate with the hopes of safeguarding this unique wetland.

In 2004, in collaboration with various organizations, P&G created the Children’s Safe Drinking Water programs (CSDW), that helps raise awareness around the globe about the importance of having access to quality drinking water. The famous corporation reminded the whole world that often water scarcity is the trigger to a whole set of other problems such as diseases, health problems, malnutrition and agricultural impediments. This initiative is part of P&G’s larger philanthropic program called Live, Learn and Thrive TM initiative.  According to the official website of the initiative, P&G is “committed to improving the lives of people around the globe, saving children’s lives and providing clean drinking water to as many people as possible” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/csdw_program.shtml). Up to now, the corporation declares it has invested more than $25 million toward clean drinking water. Procter & Gamble has teamed up with organization like the International Council of Nurses or the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs to distribute PUR packets to individuals who need it the most in developing countries or emergency situations.

The PUR packet was developed by P&G in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) and it is “an amazing innovation that quickly turns 10 liters of dirty, potentially deadly water into clean and drinkable water” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/pur_packet.shtml). The packets contain a powder that is able to remove pathogenic microorganisms in order to render the contaminated water clean. According to the official website, the packets are able to remove more than 99.99999% of bacteria and various types of viruses. This product has been sold to various organization and NGOs, for instance the International Rescue Committee has bought enough PUR packets to deliver close to 3.5. million liters of drinkable water for the people in Iraq. Disaster relief is a very important part of the company’s corporate social responsibility commitment that often start with providing clean water, a basic element for the survival of entire population. According to the official website of the organization, the program has “delivered over 1.6 billion liters of clean drinking water and they are committed to delivering four billion liters by 2012” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/csdw_program.shtml). In addition to this valid water initiative, P&G has set five strategies for sustainable in order to achieve a list of set goals by 2012.

One of their most ambitious goals so far is to enable 300 million children to have a better life, which starts with preventing around 160 million days of disease and saving 20, 000 lives by delivering 4 billion liters of clean water. This goal seems somewhat outstanding and so far the progress made since 2007 comprehend a total of 135 million children reached and close to 930 million liters of clean water were delivered. (Source: http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/strategy_goals_progress.shtml). These numbers are indicative a successful start only time will tell if such ambitious goals can be reached. The importance and validity of this cause seems to be appreciated at the international level since in 2007, the CSDW received the Ron brown US Presidential Award for Corporate Citizenship, the United Nations Association Global Leadership Award. In addition in 2005, the program was also awarded the Stockholm Industry Water Award.

Reconciling business requirements with corporate social responsibility has become a must for small firms and large corporations.  The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Programs have the ambitious goal to provide clean water to all of them who need it. The innovative PUR packet is able to rapidly transform polluted and often deadly water into clean potable water. This mechanism needs to be promoted at an international level and to be further developed since it could save the life of entire population especially in crisis situation.

In order to better comprehend issues like water shortage or water pollution, it is fundamentall to consider production processes since water problems are often connected to a country’s economy. Faced with a serious water crisis, countries like Australia try to monitor national water plans in order to reduce water consumption as much as possible while still providing the needed water supply for the survival and well-being of the population. Before trying to elaborate a plan in order to control or change the water demand amongst the population, state officials should start by looking at the essence of the actual demand. For this reason, “national water use statistics should be extended in order to include full national water footprint accounts since this broadens the basis for the formulation of a national water plan” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/NationalWaterFootprint). In order for a national water project to be sustainable on the long term, a government needs to establish coherent national policies in all sectors involve. For instance, it is useless to establish a water plan it agriculture policies are not modified to respect the same coherent direction.

The water footprint of a nation can be defined as the total amount of water used to produce the goods and services consumed by the population of that nation. Considering that many goods that are consumed in a country are produced abroad, the water footprint of a nation is made out of the internal water footprint (water used inside the country) and the external water footprint (water used to produce a good abroad). In addition, there are three categories that can be found in a nation’s water footprint. The first is the blue water footprint, “the volume of freshwater that evaporated from the global blue water resources”. Second comes the green water footprint, “the volume of freshwater evaporate from the global green water resources (rainwater)” and finally the grey water foot print, “the volume of polluted water, calculated as the volume that is required to dilute pollutants to such an extent that the quality of the water remains about agreed water quality standards” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/NationalWaterAccountingFramework). Governments need to start by reducing the water footprint of their own structures and offices, in order to demonstrate the good example, so they can later work closely with industries in order to promote transparency and the need to raise social awareness amongst citizens.

Professor and expert, tell us that the  water footprint indicator permits “the attention to shift to the role of consumers and large food processors and retailers that process and sell final consumer goods” (Source: http://www.exploringgeopolitics.org/Interview_Hoekstra_Arjen_Virtual_Water_National_Footprints_Global_Economy_Value_Price_Pollution_Depletion_Management_Environment_Intensive_Exports_Imports.html). He puts the emphasis on the fact that each individual consumer and every company can have a tremendous impact on problems such as water depletion or pollution. He also reminds us that American citizens should make the biggest effort since the USA has the largest national footprint, per head it is double the world average! The main reason is due to the fact that Americans consume a lot of highly water-intensive goods, like meat. On the contrary, developing countries have a high water footprint not due to their large water consumption but because their agriculture methods are tremendously inefficient leading to a great waste of water.

So far, except for various debates and propositions, water remains a public resource, without any real market rules to establish trade price. Yet, it is important not to take it for granted because even if it seems endless and accessible water does have a very high value.  Treating water like it has no value leads to scarcity and other serious problems. Establishing a national water footprint is only the first step towards a more responsible and self-conscious attitude. The first step towards putting an end to the most avoidable natural crisis we could face.

Along the course of the Mekong river, one has the pleasure to discover sediments of history that are still partly living today; from the Tibetan nomad culture to the ancient Kingdom of Siam, the river fosters an incredible quantity of fish species that assure the survival of most of the local communities from the six different countries. The river is also the home of the world’s largest freshwater fish, “ the Mekong giant catfish that is distinguished by the near-total lack of whisker-like barbells, the absence of teeth and its gigantic size” (Source: http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/mekong/species.html).  This unusual specie that can reach 600 pounds and grown the size of a grizzly bear, can feed an entire village for at least a week. The future of this unique specimen is at risk, due to the various flood control schemes, dams and other changes created by human kind in order to gain control over the river. Another endangered species living in the pool of the Mekong River is the Irrawaddy dolphin that is often known as the “river dolphin”.  This slow swimmer’s life is at risk, and its population is “estimated to be as low as 70 to 100 individuals” (Source: http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/mekong/species.html). The dolphin is in high demand in zoos and aquariums that often seem to forget that even limited trade is now prohibited because the specie is so endangered. You can adopt a toy Mekong Dolphin in order to help raising money for their survival at http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/species_SKU.cfm?gid=68&sc=AWY1100WC900.

These two species are only a tinny examples of all the treasures buried inside this long river. The cultural, social and commercial value of this wetland is gigantic; courted by many stakeholders the future of the Mekong River is at risk without a proper conservation plan.

For this reason, on 5 April 1995, was founded The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an official agreement between Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. These states signed  The Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin in order to come up with a joint management plan to share water resources and the development of the river.  This association aims at promoting regional cooperation and its goals are also to “promote and support coordinated, sustainable and pro-poor development, to strengthen basin-wide environmental monitoring and impact assessment and to strengthen the Integrated Water Resources Management capacity and knowledge base on the MRC bodies “ (Source: http://www.mrcmekong.org/). In addition to this organization, the WWF is also working hard in order to address the threats facing the long-term sustainable survival of the river and all its precious resources. Indeed, the WWF Living Mekong Programme is working in partnership with the MRC in order to achieve a set of goals that comprehend: sustainable river basin management, the conservation of freshwater ecosystems while raising awareness on these issues amongst the local populations and all the interested stakeholders.

A strong interest for hydropower development in the lower part of the basin is dividing many invidious stakeholders around the world amongst private and public companies. In order to mitigate the demand, the MRC has launched the Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) in order to study the potential side effects of a large-scale hydropower development and to come up with a basin management strategy. This initiative serves as a fundamental funnel for ideas and proposal where dialogue and communication is much needed in order to compromise economical interests with the ones of the conservation of the river and all its ecosystems.

Any sort of development and action plant taken to modify the course of the river, the balance of its rich biodiversity could have a life-changing impact on the lives of 60 million people and on the survival of various precious endangered species. This rich wetland is worth a lot from an economical standpoint. States need to remember that a violent over-exploitation could but an end to all the precious resources the river has to offer. Nature is generous only if it is treated with respect and dignity.

The water footprint of a business can simply be defined as the entire volume of fresh water used directly and indirectly in order to keep a business running and alive.  A distinction needs to be made between the operational water footprint, “the direct water use by the business in its own operations” and the supply-chain water footprint “the water use in the business’s supply chain” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/CorporateWaterFootprintAccountingFramework).  Many companies who do not have a direct agriculture activity in itself but work with natural products like crop or milk, often have a supply-chain water footprint that is considerably larger than its operational footprint. Once the product is finalized and used by actual consumers, this part of the consumption is part of a usage water footprint calculated separately.

Looking at the water scarcity issue taking over the world, while businesses focus on increasing production and maximizing their profits, they often forget that sooner or later the same companies might have to deal with water shortage in their supply chains. In order to be forward-looking and business savvy, industries should transform the risk created by the issue of water scarcity around the world, into a potential opportunity: “frontrunners that create product transparency before other do, that formulate specific and measurable targets with respect to water footprint reduction, with special attention to areas where problems of water scarcity and pollution are most critical, can turn this into a competitive advantage” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/CorporateWaterFootprints). It is interesting to note that the supply-chain water footprint of most companies is greater than their water footprint on the front of their operational procedures. In this sense, it could be reasonable and more cost efficient for a firm to concentrate on reducing the use of water in their supply-chain in order to lower the cost of production and to contemporarily adopt a environmental-friendly attitude. Most firms seem to believe that having the appropriate water use license is enough; while this is not completely true. A valid suggestion is to “ look into the spatiotemporal details of the company’s water footprint, because details on where and when water is used can be used as input to a detailed water footprint sustainability” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/CorporateWaterFootprints). This process assures the company the possibility to clearly evaluate the direct economical and environmental impact in order to plan an appropriate business solution. Firms should also keep in mind that return water flows can be reused in other activities.

While it would be irrational to expect and demand to a firm to reduce completely its water usage both a valid alternative to be adopted by firms is the “Water neutral concept”. This concept encourages individuals and firms to pursue water conservation activities to make up for their daily water waste and water consumption activities. In order to compensate for activities that use a high water footprint, actors should invest their time and money into parallel water sustainable activities in order to “neutralize” the water waste. The strength of this concept “lies in its positive connotation, which may trigger communities and businesses to act where otherwise they might not have done so” (Source: http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/938/The_science_of_clean_water.html).  Clear standards and a measurement scale need to be implemented at the international level in order to be able to monitor the results that would serve as a greater incentive for corporations and offer them the possibility to see the concrete positive impact they are having on the environment.

This concept of water-neutral is still new and many questions need to be solved. Yet, this valid initiative has a strong value both from a corporate and environmentalist point of view. Every single individual company that accepts to be a part of the water-neutral concept counts as one small step towards making this a new business prerogative. Water scarcity and water pollution are one of the world’s most important problems that can be prevented. If the right mentality is implemented at the individual level and further on spread at the corporate level, with time and long-term commitment a positive change can happen.

“The potential water resources of the country are estimated at 4,670 million m3/year. The total volume that can be accessed is 3,100 million m3/year. The annual per capita water availability in Tunisia is about 489 m3, which is below the threshold for water scarcity (1,000 m3/year). Water resources are unevenly distributed across the country” (Source: http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/11470949291PhD_thesis__Final__of_Maher_Abu-Madi_22_June_2004.pdf). Water scarcity becomes heavily problematic for areas of the country that have an economy concentrated on agriculture.

On June 17, The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the Northern Tunis Wastewater Project for US$ 8.03 million. The goal of the project is “to reduce the environmental impact of treated wastewater dischared into the Gulf of Tunis by building a submarine outfall” (Source: http://www.emwis.org/thematicdirs/news/tunisia-northern-tunis-wastewater-project).This project also hopes to ameliorate the quality of treated wastewater so it can later be reused for agriculture.The project is devided in three parts, the first component consists in the Transfer of the Treated Wastewater (TWW) with the hopes to augment the quantity of water being reused for agriculture. The treated wasterwater will need to be transfered from its current discharge point to a storage basin from where it will me treated and made available from agriculture purposes. The second branch of this initiative consists is “the improvement of the discharge of the remaining TWW in the Mediterranean Sea” (Source: http://www.emwis.org/thematicdirs/news/tunisia-northern-tunis-wastewater-project). Finally, the last component of this project is the monitoring of alla ctivities in order to later implement “capacity strenghtening”. This part of the project is crucial to the long-term success of this initative insofar it is installs a mechanism of coordination amongst all the various agencies working together and establishes the much needed water quality monitoring systems in order to be able to have a report and to trace the evolution of the process. This project is mostly financed by”a World Bank loan of US$52 million and a GEF grant of US$8.03 million. The Tunisian Government is contributing about US$ 8.6 million” (Source: http://en.greenplanet.net/lifestyle/eco-sustainability/1699-tunisia-two-new-projects-for-water-and-environment.html).

The Natural Resource Management Project focuses its actions on the rural environmental sector; the goal is to ameliorate the living conditions of the local communities,  to develop and implement more efficient infrastrctures and better services without forgetting the importance of encouraging income-generated activities. Another facet of this project is to try to limit the damages produced by soil degradation in specific areas of the country. This development initiative will be launched in collaboration with the local commissioners for agricultural development (CRDA). The success of this project depends on the capacity for all organisations to cooperate but most importantly coordinate their efforts in order to maximise ressources and capabilities.

Agriculture contributes substantially to the economy of Tunis and the water pollution is directly participating to the issue of water scarcity. In partnership with the local government, last month, the World Bank has agree to give a US$52 million loan in order to finance the Northern Tunis Wastewater Project. This initiative will not only focus on ameliorating the quality of water and work of rendering wastewater reusable for agriculral puporses; but will also launch a series of initatives for long-term development sustainability on the territory.