New index to help with water monitoring

The World Resources Institute (WRI) has developed a new water index to help companies identify and mitigate any risks associated with water usage, quality and supply.

Working in partnership with Goldman Sachs and General Electric (GE), the WRI has created the index to take into account nearly 20 different factors affecting corporate water resources, Waterlink International reported.

These include availability, quality and regulations relating to the vital liquid.

Jonathan Lash, president of WRI, told the publication: "In many regions around the world, water scarcity from climate change and pollution is starting to impact a company's performance, yet few analysts account for water-related risk."

Chief executive officer and president of water and process technologies for GE Power & Water Heiner Markhoff pointed out that by identifying potential supply or contamination problems, pre-emptive solutions can be introduced.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, over the past century, water use has increased at more than twice the rate of population growth.

The FAO also estimated that, by 2025, 1,800 million people will be residing in areas or nations that are classed as having absolute water scarcity.

Posted by Joseph Hutton