Water consumption varies significantly between events, depending on their size, location and nature. However, with large parts of the UK now classified as water-stressed – a situation in which demand for water exceeds the amount available in a defined period – use and conservation of this resource is an increasingly important issue for a growing number of them.
Water impacts can extend to pollution and negative effects on host community infrastructure (such as redirection of water courses) caused by event preparation, and venue construction especially. However, physical use during event periods is typically the primary focus of impact assessment.
What to measure
The basic ‘input’ measure of these impacts is the existence of an action plan for reducing water consumption and increasing efficiency of its use:
- Water Use and Management Plan for the event in place
A water resource management plan considers the drivers of water use and steps that can be taken to reduce the event’s demands, potentially as part of a broader document covering all resources. As well as the event itself, this plan should include measures to minimise visitors’ and suppliers’ (e.g. caterers’) water use, and identify how impacts on the public supply can best be limited.
More detailed ‘output’ measures consider the volume of water used by organisers and visitors at the event site. This is known as the event’s water footprint in OECD guidance:
- Quantity of water used (litres public water supply)
The OECD considers these impacts to contribute towards the UN SDG Clean Water and Sanitation (Target 6.4).
Water impacts: How to measure them
The primary focus of water impact assessment is in-venue use for drinking, sanitation and food and beverage preparation, which can be estimated where supply is metered. Other consumption – such as by contractors or visitors off-site – is far more difficult to assess and therefore very much a secondary focus of output measurements.