Book review: Corporate water strategies

Corporate water strategies

William Sarni / Earthscan / Hardback: £49.99 / ISBN: 978–1–84971–185–2

Just 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is either frozen or buried deep underground, leaving only 1% readily available for human use.

Most businesses rely on supplies of fresh water to some extent and water scarcity is increasingly a concern.

In this book, David Sarni argues that organisations can no longer continue to view water as a minimal operational cost rather than a strategic issue.

He explains why businesses need to embed water stewardship into their long-term strategies, claiming that those adopting a smart-water strategy can gain competitive advantage.

Sarni provides a roadmap for organisations wanting to develop and implement a successful water strategy, using corporate examples from various sectors with high water-use, including the food and beverage, and semiconductor industries.

Importantly, Sarni highlights the difference between carbon and water, and explains why organisations cannot simply transfer their carbon or energy strategies to water.

An excellent introduction to global water issues, as well as a good guide to how a business can address increasing water scarcity.