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.

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

3. The Water Footprint Stream: Initiatives and timeline Source: WBCSD 3

5. There is nearly no consistency in how to evaluate impact4

7. To know the impact of water use, we must know the impact of each use type in each geography

8. The method must be operational for companies to apply in decision making5

9. Accounting vs. Impact Assessment vs. Communication

10. Impact AssessmentFramework in LCA

11. Water ScarcityAssessment («Screening assessment » using Water stress index, WSI)

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

18. ManueleMargni CIRAIG – École Polytechnique de Montréal manuele.margni@polymtl.ca 16

19. 17

20. From Lack of Methods to Methods Overload? Inventory & Categorize Impact Net Damage 18

21. Risks to Business 19

22. Physicalrisks Scarcity Quality Deficiency or Compensation

23. T-shirt produced in India and Turkey SIMPLIFIED RESULTS

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)

27. Lakes and rivers drying

28. Disappearance of wetlands

29. Lack of water for wildlife

30. Human health and welfare

31. Disease

32. Displacement

33. Conflict / warfare

34. Nutrition

35. Economic development

36. Resources

37. Future development and response24

38. 25 About Quantis A Global Presence Academic Partners Diverse Clientele

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

41. Quality (34 parameters + organics)

42. Users it can be functional for27

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

44. Surface water scarcity PROPOSED AS A MIDPOINT INDICATOR 29

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

50. Desaggregated (by user) for modeling of compensation by system expansion33

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

52. Results – Human Health CF 35

53. Results – Compensation 36

55. Human Health Impacts from production of board in Hanoi for different scenarios 38

56. Normalized Human Health (HH) impacts and compensation volume (Comp) for the production of 1 ton of board 39

58. Evaluate fraction of water used by transport and recreation

59. Identify default compensation scenarios and their impacts

60. Modeling of the resource depletion aspect of water use40