Do you have a question about the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)? Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about who we are, what we do and how you can join us.
Water stewardship is the use of water that is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial. This is achieved by water users working together to address the complex challenges facing the water resources we all rely upon. Companies that embrace water stewardship shift their focus beyond their own sites and take collective action in the wider catchment area.
A catchment is defined as the geographical zone in which water is captured, flows through and eventually discharges at one or more points. The concept includes both surface water catchment and groundwater catchment.
Many parts of the world are on the brink of water crises. Risks to water supply are a growing reality and businesses are feeling financial and reputational pressure to act responsibly towards the environment and the communities they work in. Water stewardship, through the AWS Standard, enables any water user, anywhere in the world, to demonstrate their commitment to addressing shared water challenges.
For a company site and the catchment(s) it relies upon, water stewardship can:
AWS is a global network dedicated to advancing and deepening the impact of water stewardship. Through our collaborative work we inspire water users and managers to be responsible stewards of our freshwater resources and find ways to use water that are socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial. AWS now has over 200 members, all working together to ensure the sustainability of local water resources.
AWS funding comes from:
AWS is an evolving group of global organisations that work together to ensure the growth and integrity of the AWS System.
We are also responsible for the AWS Standard and its related systems and processes. AWS is headquartered in Scotland and is legally registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCO45894).
Find out more about the AWS global team and AWS governance.
AWS collaborates with a wide range of water stewardship organisations, initiatives and tools. There are many different approaches available, but they all play a distinctive role.
For example:
AWS works closely with all of the above organisations to align messaging and approaches and engage a wide array of water stewardship stakeholders around the world.
Learn more about how AWS contributes to the corporate water stewardship journey
Water stewardship and good water governance are inextricably linked. Strengthening water governance by improving and supporting policy and regulation is fundamental to water stewardship in parts of the world where water governance is weak.
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) provides a holistic framework within which water stewardship is embedded, whilst water stewardship provides evidence and concrete action at local levels to inform policy making within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.
IWRM and water stewardship share common roots in their multi-sectoral, stakeholder-inclusive approaches. The rise of water stewardship has led to growing recognition by businesses of the need to engage beyond their own sites, and this can strengthen corporate engagement in IWRM.
The AWS Standard ensures that the implementer follows laws, supports improvements in water policy and regulation and engages with local structures to facilitate multi-stakeholder water governance.
AWS Membership is open to any organisation that shares our values and goals for the responsible use of freshwater. Membership does not require organisations to get AWS certification. It is not open to individuals.
There are three categories of AWS Membership:
AWS Members have a critical say in our governance. They contribute to our strategic development, collaborate on the evolution of the AWS Standard and its related systems, elect the AWS Board of Directors and Technical Committee (or get elected themselves), and vote in member ballots.
AWS works closely with members to keep them informed of new developments, share knowledge, provide access to global expertise in water stewardship and update them on recent innovations. They also provide insider updates on emerging activities, funds, partnerships, and communication and collaboration opportunities.
AWS Members recognise the need for a global system for water stewardship through the AWS Standard. Membership is an investment in that system.
AWS Members also benefit from:
Knowledge sharing between members and partners is a key benefit of AWS Membership. AWS provides introductions and shares requests for collaboration across the alliance. It is important to note that AWS is impartial and does not recommend one service provider over another, nor does it have any role in contractual discussions between those implementing the AWS Standard and service providers.
Find out more about AWS Membership.
The AWS Standard is a framework for the water stewardship process. It helps water users understand their own water use and how it impacts on those around them. The AWS Standard can be used by any company, in any industry around the world that wants to work collaboratively and transparently to improve their water performance and contribute to wider water sustainability goals. AWS Standard certification is achieved through a rigorous third-party verification system.
The AWS Standard:
The AWS Standard System is a network of unique standards, policies, procedures and technical resources established by AWS for the practice and evaluation of water stewardship. These include the:
Working with other standards systems allows AWS to scale good water stewardship practices in relation to those already implementing sustainability standards.
We are already working with several other voluntary sustainability standards, including the Better Cotton Initiative and GlobalG.A.P. and are open to working with others.
We have advised the Better Cotton Initiative on strengthening the water components of their existing standard. For GlobalG.A.P we are developing an AWS ‘add-on’ that will enable those implementing a standard to quickly identify any additional activities they need to do to comply with the AWS Standard. We will also work with GlobalG.A.P to support consultants and auditors with streamlining implementation and certification processes to reduce the burden on sites implementing both standards.
We are also engaged with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to monitor and inform compatibility with the AWS Standard and different water-related work items and standards, notably the 14000 series.
As a member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling (ISEAL) organisation, the global body for voluntary sustainability standards, we regularly engage with other members and align with best practice on standard setting and assurance processes.
Find out more about the AWS Standard.
AWS equips organisations to engage effectively in water stewardship through training and advice. Whether you are new to water stewardship or advancing towards implementing and certifying against the AWS Standard, we are here to support you in achieving your goals. We currently offer three training courses:
Our courses are offered in two formats:
For on-demand training, visit the AWS Tools Hub.
Sites typically begin their water stewardship journey by carrying out a water risk assessment of their supply chains and operations. They will often use a tool such as the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct or the World Wildlife Fund’s Water Risk Filter and conduct more detailed site assessments through fieldwork and desk-based research.
Once the risk assessment is complete, high risk sites are judged for their business value to decide whether it is prudent and financially viable to mitigate the water risks. Businesses can then generate a list of priority sites for implementing the AWS Standard.
In some cases, where reputational risks are high and certification across a business is deemed beneficial, all sites might pursue certification. In other cases, where supply chains or operations are concentrated in countries or regions that face considerable water risks, these may become priorities for certification.
Those implementing the AWS Standard usually begin by attending an AWS training course to improve their understanding of water stewardship, the AWS Standard and the certification process. Most then employ a professionally credentialed individual to support them in implementing the AWS Standard. They may start by carrying out a gap analysis against the AWS Standard to get an accurate picture of where they are relative to requirements.
Costs for implementing the AWS Standard will include:
AWS certification allows sites to make credible, independently verifiable claims about their water stewardship. They also gain access to AWS Certified Site branding to use in their marketing and communications. This demonstrates to local stakeholders that a site meets globally endorsed best practice in water stewardship and is taking action to tackle water risks. At a corporate level, having AWS Certified Sites within operations and supply chains demonstrates a business’s commitment to water stewardship and the wider sustainability agenda.
Some sites choose to implement the AWS Standard but do not pursue certification. Whilst AWS encourages a wide range of uses for the AWS Standard other than certification, it is important for sites to be aware that without undergoing an audit and achieving certification, they will be unable to make any claims relating to their AWS activity and they will not have access to the benefits outlined above.
Implementing the AWS Standard and deciding to get certified are two different business decisions. Implementation brings operational and performance improvements associated with the water stewardship process. Certification brings added value and the rigour of impartial validation, along with the ability to make credible claims about your work and to use the AWS Certified Site branding. As soon as a site thinks it will benefit from certification, it should initiate the process. The sooner this occurs in the implementation process the better as it will help avoid inefficiencies and ensure alignment with the AWS Standard early on.
Sites that want to get certified should follow the process for implementing the AWS Standard but also register their intention to certify. They should also contact the Water Stewardship Assurance Services (WSAS) – the mission-driven Conformity Assessment Body for the AWS System that will carry out a site audit when it is ready for certification.
It is a requirement of the AWS Standard that sites communicate their intention to certify and engage transparently with stakeholders.
Register for AWS certification.
AWS certification time depends on a number of factors. These include where the site is located, what industry it is in, the complexity of the catchment area, the availability of site and catchment data, and the degree of experience a business has had with water stewardship and AWS.
If the implementing site is one of the first in its industry to undertake AWS certification, the process could take longer as new knowledge, skills and data will need to be gathered. If the site is one of a large group of sites within a business that are all undergoing AWS implementation, certification may be much quicker due to the availability of systems, knowledge and structures that support the process.
Find out more about AWS certification.
If you have a technical question relating to the AWS Standard that is not answered on this page, please check the AWS Standard 2.0 Guidance. If you still cannot find the answer, please contact us.
Costs will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
To find out how much it will cost to certify your site or sites, please contact WSAS by completing their certification application form.
If you would prefer more information first, please get in touch to discuss your needs.
Cannot find the answer to your question? Speak to a member of the AWS team who can help.