Built Environment: Securing a water positive future

Building with Nature Standards Framework includes quality standards focused on sustainable water management, at both a project and catchment-scale.

The Building with Nature Water Standards encourage the effective management and use of the water that falls on and flows through the site in ways that minimise risk and impacts of flooding and drought, improve water quality and create or enhance features for the benefit of people and wildlife. The Standards recognise that by using a range of blue infrastructure and Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) features and enhancing the physical connectivity between them, the capacity to contribute to water management is increased. In addition, from a landscape perspective, a sub-catchment approach represents the best strategy to water management: rehydrating the landscape through interception, reducing the risk from and impacts of flooding and the demand for additional water to maintain green infrastructure. We were very encouraged to read the new guidance from the British Standards Institute on how the built environment can play a critical role in securing a water positive future:

Built Environment: Securing a water positive future

https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/topics/sustainable-resilience/thirst-for-change/?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SM-SUB-PRM-BSIKnow-THIRSTFORCHANGEBUILD-2311

It is estimated that buildings and construction are responsible for over 15% of global freshwater use, with concrete production and various manufacturing processes within the industry significantly contributing to these figures. 

In the US, building operations, including landscaping, make up approximately 12% of total water use, while in Europe, buildings are responsible for the majority of the 21% of abstracted water for public supply.

This means there are significant gains to be realised from creating buildings in a water efficient way and ensuring they have water efficient measures, systems and fittings in place once they are in use.

BSI’s new Thirst for Change report explores the global challenge of water availability and how we can collaborate to respond to these challenges. Download your copy today to learn more about how the built environment can improve its water usage as part of the broader push to achieving a water positive future.

Main report

Built Env Sector Overview

Infographics – some interesting country-by-country comparisons!