# Advanced Verify

# Step 6 - Advanced Verify

Stage Five of the Programme is advanced-level verification . Here, Participants are required to maintain their membership of WSAP, complete all of the earlier Programme stages, complete advanced water stewardship actions, and be audited by an Authorised Auditor to demonstrate achievement.

To achieve four-star verification, Participants must complete enough advanced Standard indicators to obtain a total of between 40 and 79 points. Please refer to the scoring matrix in the Resources.

To achieve five-star verification, Participants must complete enough advanced Standard indicators to obtain a total of above 80 points. Please refer to the scoring matrix in the Resources.

A Third-party Audit must be completed by an Authorised Auditor to the satisfaction of Water Stewardship Asia Pacific to demonstrate achievement of the required indicators, criteria and points.

To maintain either Verify Four- or Five-Star level, a Maintenance Audit must be completed by an Authorised Auditor to the satisfaction of Water Stewardship Asia Pacific once every three years from the date of the first Advanced Verify audit. Such audits will pay special attention to any issues raised through the Annual Communication of Progress in the years between audits.

Participants must complete an Annual Communication of Progress every 12 months in any year that a Maintenance Audit is not completed.

# 1.4* Gather data on site’s indirect water use

# 1.4.3* Provide information on the quantified embedded water use in primary inputs in catchments of origin

Primary inputs should include any externally sourced goods or services that account for over 5 percent of the total weight of goods produced by the site, or that represent over 5 percent of the costs. An input below this criterion, but still dependent on significant water use, should be included as a primary input.

# 1.5.8* Provide evidence of efforts re catchment-level data collection

An organisation will normally collect water-related data onsite, especially if it operates its own water sources and/or wastewater treatment facilities. As part of conforming to the Standard, where permitted or practical to do so, the site will also likely collect data beyond its boundaries related to monitoring risk to itself, or its impacts to others. This may include:

Sampling water quality upstream of its water sources (surface or groundwater)
Sampling water quality downstream of a wastewater discharge point
Measuring water levels in offsite monitoring wells in order to monitor the impact of the site’s groundwater abstractions.

Joint data collection consists of the mutual sharing of water-related data collected by the site with authorities, other water users or researchers and is encouraged to help others in the catchment on their water stewardship efforts.

A key stewardship action would be for the site to offer to assist the relevant authorities to do their mandated work, for example by undertaking data collection over and above regulatory requirements.

The Participant must do the following(s) to obtain 4 points:

Develop a scheme of collecting catchment level data together with actual data collected.

In addition, to obtain additional points:

Two or more types of external waterrelated data are collected; (+1)
At least one type of data are collected with certified methods or by licensed testing institutions; (+1)
Data is shared with stakeholders; (+1)

# 1.5.9* Provide evidence of adequacy of WASH provision within catchments of origin of primary inputs

The same approach and guidance applies as for indicator 1.5.7 but for catchments of origin of primary inputs that are not the same as the site’s catchment. This indicator is advanced whereas 1.5.7 is core in recognition of the aforementioned complexities of not being in the site’s catchment.

# 1.6* Understand shared water challenges

# 1.6.3* Describe or document future water issues

Predicting future issues is difficult and introduces uncertainties. However, there are factors which can point to potential concerns in the future. This first requires an assessment of existing trends that could impact on water resources, examples include:

Growing population
Increasing development of water-using industry or agriculture
Increasing water demand by existing population, industry or agriculture
Observed climate trends (e.g. reduced rainfall or higher temperatures)
Worsening water quality of important water bodies
Deteriorating condition of water-related infrastructure

Experts and expert information sources can advise on projected trends not yet observable.

Once trends and projected future issues are identified, a review should be undertaken of the impacts these may have on the organisation, catchment population and natural environment.

The development of a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) may be a mandatory component of the site’s authorisation for development and operation. Where this is not mandatory, or where it does not address water impacts, then an additional assessment of water-related social impacts is valuable and will help a site to better understand the risks it presents to others, and their mitigation.

Examples of water-related social impacts, which may be positive or negative, include:

The site’s water use is restricting the availability of water to local communities and/or small farmers
The site’s wastewater discharge presents a water quality risk to downstream water users
The site’s irrigation activities have a positive impact on nearby farmers, whereby excess water is helping to wet their soils and recharge aquifers
The site’s proactive programmes on data collection and addressing shared challenges are providing a net benefit to the community
Impacting cultural or community value

The site should undertake an assessment of its impacts (positive and negative) and plan action as appropriate. For negative impacts, it should develop a plan to remove or mitigate them. For positive impacts, it may wish to communicate this with stakeholders, for both reputation and to set a good example to others. The site should provide documentation on its assessment and associated plans.

# 2.1* Sign and publicly-disclose water stewardship commitment

# 2.1.2* Provide a publicly-disclosed water stewardship statement/ document identified and signed by organisation's senior-most executive or governance body

Commitment from the senior executive, with public disclosure, further increases the credibility of the commitment, and helps to lock it in as part of the long-term corporate strategy.

# 2.3* Create water stewardship strategy and plan

# 2.3.3* Describe or document activities with other sites in same catchment

The organisation is encouraged to promote increased uptake of water stewardship through partnership with other sites that may or may not be under the same company or organisation. This is particularly relevant to addressing shared water challenges. Examples include:

Working in partnership to reduce net water abstractions from within the catchment
Cooperating on the restoration and protection of an IWRA
Working together to reduce pollution discharges to water bodies, such as from fertilisers and pesticides.
Where there is no strong case for physical actions, the site may work with others to communicate on water stewardship principles.

Actions are not undertaken where there is not a strong case for it, but expects the site to assess the need and potential, and to report on those that are undertaken.

# 2.3.4* Describe or document activities with other sites in other catchment(s)

The guidance is the same as for 2.3.3, but for situations when actions take place in more than one catchment. It is recognized that actions outside of the site’s catchment may be more difficult or not possible relative to the examples in 2.3.3.

# 2.3.5* Provide evidence of efforts made to seek stakeholder consensus on water stewardship plan. Provide evidence of gains on at least one target

To show it has sought consensus, the organisation should report on how it has engaged with relevant stakeholders and communicated its water stewardship plan to them. It should also show, where relevant, that the plan has considered the interests and concerns of stakeholders. Typically, consultation will be undertaken within the context of stakeholder engagement (See Guidance section on Stakeholder Engagement).

# 2.4* Demonstrate site’s responsiveness and resilience to water risks

# 2.4.2* Provide copy of plan to mitigate/adapt to climate change with other agencies

Climate scientists project that climate change is increasing or will increase water-related risks. The type and level of projected change varies from place to place, often with a high level of uncertainty. Impacts may be linked to too much or too little water, such as increased flood risk or less rainfall. Projections suggest that such events will become more frequent and potentially more intense. This means water-related infrastructure at the site, and within the catchment, could be at greater risk than it is currently designed to manage. The site and catchment may also become more vulnerable to water scarcity.

Given the complexities and uncertainties around climate change projections, the organisation should undertake its assessment in coordination with relevant public-sector agencies, and other expert sources. For example, the organisation can take into consideration climate science and analysis, particularly if referring to the catchment.

The outcome of the assessment may be incorporated into the original water stewardship plan or be provided as an addendum. In any case, risk management actions and emergency response plans should be adapted accordingly.

# 3.1* Implement plan to participate positively in catchment governance

# 3.1.3* Provide evidence of improved governance capacity

The organisation should report on how it has improved its internal water governance capacity, for example, through giving greater responsibility and time to water stewardship for existing employees and/or appointing additional dedicated staff.

In addition to its water stewardship plan and records (as required for the International Water Stewardship Standard), it may also have created additional internal policies, guidance and standards documents.

# 3.1.4* Provide evidence from stakeholders that site is contributing positively to catchment governance

To show it has sought consensus, the organisation should report on how it has engaged with relevant stakeholders and communicated its water governance approach and water stewardship initiatives. Where relevant, the site should show where its approach has considered the interests and concerns of stakeholders. Typically, consultation will be undertaken within the context of stakeholder engagement (See Guidance section on Stakeholder Engagement).

# 3.3* Implement plan to achieve site water balance targets

# 3.3.4* Provide information on the quantified volume of voluntary water reallocation to non-economic needs

In some cases, the site may not be legally compelled to re-allocate saved water, but may wish to do so for social, cultural, or environmental needs. The organisation may use any method of quantification it considers appropriate.

# 3.5.2* Provide evidence of IWRA restoration in catchment

The same guidance applies as for 3.5.1, except this advanced indicator requires completed restoration.

# 3.5.3* Provide evidence from stakeholders that site is contributing positively to healthy IWRAs in catchment

The organisation should show it has informed relevant stakeholders of its work on IWRAs and has requested feedback from them, which will ideally confirm their support. Where stakeholders have raised any objections or concerns, these should be recorded and considered as appropriate. In recognition the site cannot insist on feedback, as a minimum, it should show it has invited it.

An example of an objection to restoration of an IWRA:

Restoring a wetland will result in raising water levels by an unacceptable amount This will also raise surrounding groundwater levels which creates a risk of flooding in the basements of nearby properties.

# 3.6* Implement plan to provide worker access to WASH

# 3.6.3* Provide list of actions taken to support WASH provision to stakeholders

Report on any actions and investments by the organisation to provide and improve WASH facilities in the community. This indicator is intended to capture efforts by the site directly to improve WASH provision beyond the site boundaries. Examples include:

Providing publicly accessible drinking water access (e.g. tap, fountain) outside the site boundary diverted from the site’s own water supply. This is a valuable benefit in locations where municipal water supply is limited or non-existent.
Installing water sources, treatment and drinking water access and/or wastewater treatment facilities in local communities

# 3.6.4* Provide evidence of efforts made with public agencies to provide information and advocate for WASH

Where local communities have poor access to WASH, there can be significant potential for an organisation to support and provide new facilities, whether independently, with peer organisations or the authorities. Where local communities are a source of employees, such provision can help improve the health and wellbeing directly of its own workers and their families. This indicator calls for the site to share information and advocate for change, and there is no expectation that the site is required to construct and maintain infrastructure to provide WASH in the catchment outside of the site.

# 3.7* Implement plan to maintain or improve indirect water use

# 3.7.3* Document and provide evaluation of actions taken to address risks/challenges of indirect water use outside catchment

This indicator covers potentially a very wide range of issues and actions. Examples include:

Supporting efficient irrigation projects for crops in a site’s supply chain
Supporting actions to reduce water pollution originating from the production of an item in the supply chain. For example, leather tanning is known to be a significant source of water pollution.

The Participant must do the following to obtain 5 points:

A list of the site’s actions taken with supporting evidence

In addition, to obtain additional points:

Evidence of suppliers taking action as a result of the site’s engagement; (+1)
Achievements of the actions are evaluated and quantified if applicable; (+1)