BASIC DOCUMENTATION
Products pursuing the Product Share pathway that do not require on-site water inputs at the final manufacturing facility(s) are considered Site Net Positive within LPC and are exempt from on-site documentation requirements I04-1, I04-2, I04-3 and I04-4. The site audit will confirm compliance.
SITE REQUIREMENTS
I04-1 Site Water Narrative
A 1-2 page narrative, written by the water system designers, engineers or facility manager fully describing the on-site water system at the final facility, and including all of the following information:
- Clear indication of whether the Whole Facility pathway (>75% facility output) or Product Share pathway (≤75% facility output) is being used. If the Product Share pathway is selected, a description of how water usage was calculated for the product line must be included.
- A list of all water end-uses on site, and whether the demands are met with potable or non-potable water
- A description of the source, reuse, and disposal of all water used in the production process, including system schematics and flow diagram, showing contributing system(s) and major components, their function and location and the water treatment method(s) associated with each.
- An annual water balance diagram showing general water flow and balance of product share or, if applicable, the overall facility and site hydrology. This may be incorporated into the flow diagram required above.
- Top five impactful opportunities for water usage reduction at the facility or in the production process.
If the product is not pursuing I05 Net Positive Water, the manufacturer must complete the following:
- A description of the systems required to meet 100% of the Product Share or, if applicable, the Whole Facility’s water usage via on-site resources.
- Description of any existing barriers to becoming on-site water Net Positive and potential solutions.
I04-2 Site Water Supply and Use Table
Completed Water Supply and Use Table as provided, documenting actual water use at the final manufacturing facility from monthly readings throughout the 12-month occupancy period from meter(s) or other onsite tracking systems that clearly record the amount of water used from each applicable supply source.
Manufacturers should also provide supporting documentation in the form of water bills or submetering of end uses to make table claims traceable.
I04-3 On-Site Effluent Treatment Documentation
For any production water treated and disposed or discharged on-site, manufacturers must identify all potential Red List substances used in production of the product pursuing certification. Manufacturers must also describe and document all on-site industrial water treatment and testing methods, including documentation of compliance with local wastewater treatment regulation.
I04-4 Water System Photographs
Photographs of any water systems, particularly portions that will be hidden from view at time of audit due to completion of construction.
LIFE CYCLE REQUIREMENTS
I04-5 Industry Average
Acceptable methods for determining the industry average cradle-to-gate water Footprint value are identified in the Industry Average clarification.
The manufacturer should document the industry average value, clearly identifying and documenting the source of the average, and compare it to the product water Footprint. If the Footprint is above the industry average, manufacturers should identify opportunities for reducing the water Footprint by the time of recertification.
If no industry average exists, the manufacturer must note this and provide a brief narrative regarding efficient use of water throughout the life cycle relative to similar products and identify opportunities for improvement.
This requirement is superseded by documentation requirement I05-5 Industry Average if pursuing I05 Net Positive Water.
I04-6 Hotspot Identification
Documentation of the water consumption hotspots of the product’s cradle-to-gate life cycle:
- A table of process contributions to cradle-to-gate life cycle water consumption, listing at least the top 5 processes ranked in terms of water consumption.
- A brief 1-2 paragraph narrative that interprets the main results and identifies the 5 main drivers of the product’s water consumption footprints.
- An analysis of opportunities for leveraging these hotspots to reduce impact in the product’s life cycle
