Water footprint assessment tool – Overview

The Water Footprint Assessment Tool is a free online platform developed by the Water Footprint Network, in collaboration with Water Footprint Implementation. It integrates the Global Water Footprint Standard and the Water Stat global water‑footprint database.

Target audience

It serves a wide user base including:

• Companies
• Governments
• NGOs
• Investors
• Consultants
• Researchers

Functionality

Users can conduct two types of assessments:

1. Geographic assessment
   Enables analysis of water use at basin or regional levels, evaluating sustainability and opportunities for reduction or efficiency improvements
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2. Production (facility or product) assessment
   Allows calculation and mapping of a facility’s or product’s water footprint—including supply chain—and identification of improvement strategies.

The tool applies recognised methodologies for measuring blue, green, and grey water usage, ensuring results are comparable and reliable.

Relevance to finance professionals

• Risk evaluation: It helps assess water-related risks in operations or supply chains—risks that can materialise in regulatory, reputational or operational cost exposures.
• Efficiency and cost insights: By quantifying water usage and identifying inefficiencies, it can support cost-saving strategies and more efficient resource allocation.
• ESG and sustainability reporting: Outputs are grounded in established standards (e.g. Global Water Footprint Standard), offering evidence for environmental disclosures and sustainable finance frameworks.
• Strategic allocation: The geographic module offers insight into watershed stress points—valuable for investors or lenders assessing the resilience and sustainability of project or portfolio exposures.
• Scenario analysis: The ability to model changes (e.g. different sourcing or production methods) supports evaluation of mitigation strategies or future-proofing investments.

Summary

The Water Footprint Assessment Tool is a scientifically robust, open-access application that enables quantitative analysis of water use and sustainability across geographies or facilities. It is particularly relevant to finance professionals for risk assessment, efficiency gains, ESG reporting, and strategic decision-making—all grounded in authoritative international standards.