Direct water on-site
Inventorying water for operations, washing, cooling, irrigation, and utilities, determining what exits in the product, discharge, or evaporation, and linking them to available sources and meters.
Water management begins with clear data
Water footprint calculation for facilities and projects in Saudi Arabia
At Albuad Environmental Company, we offer a water footprint calculation service to understand water use within facilities, projects, and across the supply chain according to a specific scope. We review extraction, consumption, discharge, and reuse data, analyze water flows, sources, and data quality, and then identify conservation opportunities and improvement priorities.
The results help management link water use to production and operation, compare performance over time, and prepare data for sustainability reports. It is determined from the beginning whether the task is an operational water balance or a broader water footprint assessment, and the required methodology for each case.
The methodology, boundaries, and outputs are determined according to the project objective and available data; compliance with a specific standard or certification is not assumed without a scope of work that proves otherwise.
Clear boundariesA specific facility, project, or product and assessment period.
Traceable flowsLinking incoming and outgoing water to meters and records.
Analysis according to the objectiveDifferentiating quantities from water impact indicators.
Improvement planActions, responsibilities, and indicators for follow-up.
What is the water footprint calculation service?
Watermark Calculation It is an assessment of water use and its associated impacts for a facility, process, or product, within stated boundaries, timeframes, and methodology. It may address water used directly on-site as well as water associated with procurement and the supply chain. Results vary between quantifying water volumes and assessing its impacts; therefore, a water bill alone is not considered a complete water footprint assessment.
What is the difference between withdrawal, consumption, discharge, and water footprint?
Separating these indicators prevents overstating results or interpreting every volume entering the site as final consumption.
| Index | What does it describe? | What do we review? |
|---|---|---|
| Water withdrawal or supplied water | Water entering from specific sources into the facility boundaries. | Source, quantity, timeframe, meters, supply, and storage. |
| Water Consumption | The portion that does not return to the same water source within the approved temporal and spatial boundaries, such as evaporation or incorporation into the product. | Water pathways, return to the source, and the nature of the process, according to the methodology. |
| Water drainage | Water leaving the boundaries to a specified destination. | Quantities, destinations, quality, treatment, and ultimate fate. |
| Water footprint assessment | Assessment of water use and its potential impacts according to the chosen framework. | Boundaries, spatial and temporal context, quality, and assessment indicators. |
Water recycling on-site is not considered a new external supply source in every cycle. We distinguish internal flows from incoming water to avoid double counting.
What is the scope of the water footprint calculation service?
The task can be performed at the facility level, a specific process, or a product; the proposal clearly defines the included boundaries, any exclusions, and their reasons.
Indirect water
Studying water associated with raw materials, energy, utilities, and suppliers as they enter the scope, while documenting data sources, assumptions, and reliance limits.
Location, Time, and Water Quality
Linking data to the place of use, its season, source, and discharge destination, and studying appropriate impact indicators when the assessment methodology requires it.
Objectives of Calculating the Water Footprint for Facilities
Understanding Water Use
Demonstrating where water is used, which processes or locations represent the largest contribution, while distinguishing between high consumption and high water impact.
Identifying Loss Opportunities
Reviewing unexplained differences in the water balance, and prioritizing field verification points or improving measurement, rather than considering every difference as a confirmed leak.
Improving Operational Efficiency
Studying opportunities for conservation, managing washing, cooling, irrigation, and reuse as appropriate for the required quality and operational conditions.
Establishing a Baseline
Fixing a period, data, and methodology that allow for later performance comparison, while explaining changes in production, seasonality, and facility boundaries.
Support sustainability reporting
Providing information on sources, quantities, assumptions, and indicators that can be used within the appropriate report for the scope of the assignment.
Prioritizing Investment Decisions
Comparing improvement opportunities according to technical feasibility, costs, estimated savings, and data that require confirmation.
Steps for Calculating the Water Footprint with the Albuad Environmental Company
The service begins by reviewing what is available, then gaps and any need for measurements, visits, or specialized entities within the scope of work are determined.
Defining the Goal and Assessment Boundaries
We review the study objective, included activities and sites, the period, comparison unit, and required outputs, and choose the appropriate methodology.
Data collection and verification
We collect meter, billing, supply, operation, drainage, and treatment data, then review units, periods, missing data, and unusual values.
Preparing the water flow map
We link sources to tanks, processes, products, discharge, and reuse, while separating internal flows from external inputs and outputs.
Calculation and Analysis of Results
We prepare the water balance and usage indicators, and carry out the footprint and impact assessments included in the scope, while documenting data, estimates, and result limits.
Identifying Conservation Opportunities
We rank the proposed measures according to the problem, feasibility, and verification needs, and review water quality conditions before suggesting any change in its use.
Report Preparation and Follow-up Plan
We deliver the results, tables, maps, observations, and an improvement plan with priorities, responsibilities, and indicators, according to the agreed-upon outputs.
Required data for calculating the water footprint
Not all data needs to be complete before contacting us. Send what is available, and we will determine a customized list for your activity and study period.
Water sources and supply
Water bills, well data or tanker supply when present, main and sub-meters, and used treated water sources.
Operation and production
Production quantities, operating hours, occupancy or cultivated area, and washing, cooling, irrigation, and water-using processes.
Drainage and treatment
Drainage quantities and destinations, treatment and reuse station data, and available analysis results according to the assessment objective.
Diagrams and storage
Network and tank diagrams, measurement points, distribution routes, inventory changes, maintenance work, and recorded malfunctions.
Procurement and Supply Chain
Material types, quantities, sources, and supplier data when the assessment includes indirect water or a product life cycle.
Previous Studies and Commitments
Previous reports, conservation plans, permits, relevant requirements, site boundaries, and the period required for assessment.
In case of data gaps, we clarify what can be measured and what can be estimated, the source and limitations of each estimate, and the measurement improvement plan. Estimates do not turn into actual readings in the report.
How do we review the water balance without inflating results?
We link incoming water to outgoing water, inventory changes, and consumption pathways within consistent temporal and spatial boundaries. We review reading timing discrepancies, meter accuracy, and unmeasured flows before interpreting any differences.
The flow map may include water contained within the product or transported off-site, estimated evaporation or losses, discharge, and reuse. The report clarifies the estimation method for each pathway and the remaining uncertainty.
How is the water footprint assessment methodology determined?
We define the reference according to the study question and the entity that will use the results. The scope of work clarifies the difference between a water efficiency review and a full water footprint assessment.
Assessment according to ISO 14046
It links the water footprint assessment to the life cycle perspective and impact indicators. The level of application, data, and study boundaries are determined before work begins; collecting invoices or preparing a water balance is not sufficient to claim completion of a compliant assessment.
Volumetric Water Accounting
The Water Footprint Network methodology may present blue, green, and grey components when applicable: consumption of surface and groundwater, rainwater used, and a volumetric index associated with the pollutant load. The grey component is neither the actual discharge quantity nor domestic greywater.
Indicators vary across frameworks; the report clarifies the methodology used and its units, and does not confuse actual volume with impact indicator results or present either as a substitute for the other.
What are the outputs of the water footprint calculation service?
Outputs and delivery formats are specified in the work proposal, and the results reflect the agreed-upon boundaries, data, and methodology.
Documented Technical Report
Objective, boundaries, period, methodology, data sources, assumptions, results, and limitations of use, according to the scope of the assessment.
Analytical tables and graphs
Distribution of water use across sources, locations, and operations, with appropriate comparison indicators for the data and period.
Flow Map and Water Balance
Show water pathways from sources to use, discharge, and reuse, indicating unresolved gaps.
Data Quality Log
Distinguish actual readings from estimates, and document gaps, calculation sources, and recommendations for improving data collection.
Conservation and Improvement Plan
Prioritized procedures, responsibilities, implementation phases, indicators, and preliminary estimates that need confirmation when necessary.
Executive summary of management
Key findings, improvement opportunities, proposed decisions, and actions requiring further technical study or measurement.
Water conservation and use efficiency improvement opportunities
Improve metering and maintenance
Add measurement points when needed, review meters and valves, and inspect areas showing unexplained discrepancies.
Optimize rinsing and cooling
Review rinsing and operation cycles and equipment type, and evaluate alternatives while maintaining quality, safety, and process requirements.
Appropriate Reuse
Study water quality, required treatment, destination of use, and applicable requirements, avoiding the transfer of pollution to another process.
Improve irrigation and management
Review actual requirements, schedules, seasonality, and irrigation method when applicable, and link decisions to site data.
Reducing Material Loss
Studying the relationship between product waste and the water used to produce it, rather than focusing solely on direct utility bills.
Tracking Performance Indicators
Comparing withdrawal or consumption against an appropriate unit of production or activity, while accounting for variations in production, weather, and operating limits.
Expected savings are estimates based on data and assumptions. Results are measured after implementation, and a uniform reduction percentage is not guaranteed for all facilities.
When does a facility need to calculate its water footprint?
The need arises when water usage increases, bills diverge from activity levels, preparing a sustainability report, planning an expansion, or responding to a client or investor request. The assessment is also useful when establishing a baseline and a conservation plan.
Beneficiaries of the service include industrial, food, agricultural, and construction facilities, hotels, hospitals, commercial complexes, and treatment plants, with the scope customized to the nature of each activity.
Water Footprint Calculation Cost and Report Preparation Duration
Cost and duration are determined after reviewing the number of sites and operations, the reporting period, data level, and the inclusion of supply chain or impact assessments. A study based on complete operational data differs from an assignment requiring measurements, analyses, or supplier data.
The proposal outlines the deliverables, visits, included reviews, and data collection responsibilities. Measurement, analysis, and independent verification work, if requested, are clearly specified within the proposal or in a separate scope.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Footprint Calculation
Is calculating the water footprint the same as reading a water bill?
No. The bill is a source of data for supplied water, while the assessment requires defining boundaries, pathways of use, discharge, and consumption, and may include the supply chain and impact indicators according to the objective of the study.
Does the water footprint include indirect water?
It can include water associated with materials, energy, and suppliers when they fall within the study boundaries. The report clarifies what is included, what is excluded, the reasons for exclusion, and the quality of available data.
Can the water footprint be calculated when data is lacking?
Additional measurements or documented estimates can be reviewed depending on the study objective. Estimated data is distinguished from actual data, and the impact of the shortage and the limits of using the results are clarified, along with a plan to improve data collection.
What is the difference between water consumption and water withdrawal?
Withdrawal describes water entering from specified sources, while consumption relates to the portion that does not return to the same water source within the approved boundaries, such as evaporation or incorporation into the product. Distinguishing between them requires tracking flows, time periods, and locations.
Does increased reuse always mean a lower footprint?
Reuse may help reduce the required fresh water, but water quality, energy, treatment, destination of use, and their impacts must be reviewed. No final conclusion should be assumed without evaluating boundaries and data.
Does the water footprint report represent an ISO 14046 certification?
No. The report is not an automatic certification. The scope of the standard's application and the requirements for review or verification, if any, are determined independently and clearly, and a water balance alone is not sufficient to claim compliance with a full assessment.
How does a facility compare results between two years?
It uses consistent boundaries, periods, methodology, and indicators, and interprets changes in production, seasonality, locations, and data. A decrease in the total may reflect a decline in activity, so intensity indicators are reviewed alongside absolute quantities.
Does the service guarantee the detection of all leaks or a specific savings percentage?
No. The review of flows and data helps identify points that require verification, and leaks may require specialized inspection. Savings depend on the implemented actions and operating conditions and are verified by measurement after implementation.
How long does the water footprint calculation service take?
The duration varies depending on the number of sites, scope of assessment, data readiness, and the need for measurements, analyses, or supplier information. A proposed schedule is determined after reviewing the data and scope of work.
Professional references for determining the water footprint methodology
The appropriate methodology is selected based on the objective, data, and the report's beneficiary, and its scope of application is clarified in the business proposal and the report.
ISO 14046
Principles, requirements and guidelines related to life cycle water footprint assessment.
Water Footprint Network
Volumetric water accounting and assessment manual, and interpretation of components and their spatial and temporal boundaries.
Turn water data into actionable decisions
Send your facility activity, project city, number of locations, evaluation period, and available bills and readings. We will review the data and determine the scope of the water footprint calculation, appropriate outputs, and steps to complete the information.