August 7, 2018 Comments are off kellen
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GEMI Local Water Tool (LWT) 2.0 – Updating and Enhancing the LWT: Project Proposal

Business risk, opportunity assessments, and reporting related to water issues continue to evolve to require analyses of water use, local availability, impact of use, license to operate and climate-adaptation considerations on both global and local levels.

Originally released in 2012, the GEMI Local Water Tool™(LWT) is a free Excel-based tool for companies and organizations to evaluate the external impacts, business risks, opportunities and management plans related to water use and discharge at a specific site or operation. The GEMI Local Water Tool™(LWT) for Oil and Gas is a companion tool customized for petroleum companies.

The tool is designed to answer questions related to a local risk assessment of a specific site, such as:

  • What are the water risks at this site:
    • Physical supply
    • Regulatory
    • Social
    • Competition
    • Climate variability
  • Which risks are greatest?
  • What is our management plan?

The GEMI LWT™ was developed in cooperation with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to link to the WBCSD Global Water Tool (GWT) as well as with IPIECA to link to the IPIECA Global Water Tool for Oil and Gas and provides a set of tools that companies can use to sustainably manage water in their operations.  The GEMI LWT was most recently updated in March 2015 to maintain alignment with the WBCSD Global Water Tool.

Since the GEMI LWT’s release in 2012, it has been used globally by thousands of organizations across sectors and has been referenced as a valuable resource for water risk assessment by a variety of independent organizations, such as the Alliance for Water Stewardship, CDP, CEO Water Mandate, Environmental Business Journal, SDG Compass and others.

Objective

GEMI is now taking on a new effort to review and update the GEMI Local Water Tool™(LWT) and GEMI Local Water Tool™ for Oil & Gas to:

  • incorporate consideration of climate adaptation in the tool’s risk assessment process through addition of a new module within the tool
  • provide updated links within the tool to credible and recent local water data
  • enhance alignment of the tool’s outputs with current water reporting requirements, where relevant,
  • ensure the tool is updated to the latest software standards, while enhancing its ease of use

An identical update will be performed for both the LWT and LWT for Oil & Gas, while maintaining existing sector-specific custom elements in the current oil & gas tool.

In order to develop the most comprehensive tool possible, GEMI is opening up the revision process to a wider set of companies and industry organizations. Those organizations joining the project will have influence in the tool’s design and scope, gain insight into how others are managing water risks and get to utilize the tool prior public release.

GEMI LWT project members will have a unique opportunity to identify and shape key enhancements to the existing tool in areas such as: the impact of climate-adaptation considerations in water risk assessment, the use of water risk assessment outputs for current and expected corporate water reporting requirements and, linkages to new/enhanced water datasets. Those organizations participating in this collaborative effort will be recognized during the development and release of the new tool.

Project Tasks, Budget and Schedule

The following tasks are planned for revision and expansion of the GEMI Local Water Tool (LWT).  At the beginning of the project, ideas for revisions and updates of the current GEMI tools will be sought from the project working group (LWT Project Members).

Project Tasks

Task 1: Finalize Project Work Plan.

  • Gather input from group of representative LWT users for the purpose of understanding the pros and cons of the existing LWT tool, what works and what needs to be addressed, suggested improvements and ways to potentially simplify the process.

Deliverable: Final Project Work Plan

Task 2: Refresh and Expand the Local Water Tool Framework, Content and Functionality

  • A one-day Framing Workshop will be held to review and enhance the design of the LWT 2.0 structure, functionalities, and outputs. Review climate change risks and define the resources that the collective group feels need to be considered for use as a link to help assess current and forecasted risks.

Deliverable: Memorandum documenting the outcomes of the Framing Workshop.

Task 3: Create Draft LWT 2.0, Review with Project Members and Revise based on member feedback

  • Create Draft LWT: A draft 2.0 version of the LWT will be created based on the existing GEMI LWT and the results of the Framing Workshop.

Deliverable: Draft LWT 2.0 architectural framework

  • Review Teleconference: A 90-minute teleconference will be held with the Project Members to review the draft LWT 2.0.

Deliverable: Memorandum documenting the outcomes of the LWT Review.

  • Revise Draft LWT: The Draft LWT 2.0 will be revised based on the Review call and an identical update will be made to the LWT oil & gas version to align with the revision.

Deliverable: LWT 2.0 ready for Pilot Testing

Task 4: Pilot Test LWT 2.0

  • A Pilot Tester Kickoff Teleconference will be held with LWT Project Members to provide instructions for using the tool. Technical support will be provided to pilot testers if needed.
  • A 90-minute Pilot Testers Review Teleconference will be held to review lessons learned and revise the tool

Deliverable: Memorandum documenting the outcomes of the Pilot Testers teleconference.

Task 5: Finalize LWT: General Version and Oil/Gas Sector Version.

Deliverable: Final Local Water Tools: General and Oil/Gas Version 2.0 ready for publication online.

Project Schedule

Date Task
September 2018 Confirmation of Project Participants and Finalize Project Funding.

Issue Invoices to Committed Participants.
October – December 2018 Task 1: Finalize Project Work Plan

 
January – March 2019 Task 2: Refresh and Expand the Local Water Tool Framework, Content and Functionality
April – June 2019 Task 3: Create Draft LWT 2.0, Review with Project Members and Revise based on member feedback
July – September 2019 Task 4: Pilot Test LWT 2.0
October 2019 Task 5: Finalize LWT: General Version and Oil/Gas Sector Version

Project Budget

This project will be completed at a total cost of $250,000, inclusive of expenses and GEMI administrative costs. This estimated cost assumes that GEMI will provide organizational support for logistics and meeting scheduling.  Meeting locations are assumed to be in the United States.

Funding Approach

GEMI is seeking to form a cross-industry coalition of companies and industry trade associations interested in water risk assessment and to raise funding from participating organizations to support this project. The total budget would be divided between interested participants. This cost-shared model allows project partners to help shape a new tool at a much lower cost than commissioning such a project individually, while also learning from peers from across sectors. GEMI is seeking a commitment of interest by September 15, 2018 with payment due by January 15, 2019.

Team

GEMI will partner on this project with a team from Gannett Fleming, Inc., led by Mark D. Johnson, Senior Vice President, Director – Environmental Compliance & Remediation Services. For more than 100 years, Gannett Fleming has been a leader in global infrastructure solutions with a focus on planning, design, technology, and construction management services for a diverse array of markets and disciplines. Partnering with the GEMI Water Sustainability Work Group, Gannett Fleming was the prime developer of GEMI’s Collecting the Drops: A Water Sustainability Planner tool. The web-based tool was tailored for facility managers or owners and guided them through the process of assessing water use and impacts from their operations, and this tool served as a model for the original GEMI LWT.

Action

To learn more about participation in this project and the project commitment process please contact Kellen Mahoney at GEMI at kmahoney@navista.net

water tools e-learning
April 12, 2016 Comments are off Kellen
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Water tools e-learning

IPIECA launches water tools e-learning course

Offers opportunity for in-depth training on GEMI Local Water Tool

We are pleased to share that IPIECA has developed a new e-learning course offering training on water risk assessment tools, including the GEMI Local Water Tool for Oil & Gas.

GEMI and IPIECA collaborated in the development of the GEMI Local Water Tool (LWT) for Oil & Gas, a customized tool which may be used together with IPIECA’s Global Water Tool for Oil & Gas. GEMI and IPIECA work together to promote the two tools as mutually compatible and a provider of best practices for sustainable water management at the global, regional, national and local levels.

Please see the IPIECA news release below for more information on the new e-learning course.


Water risk assessment tools e-learning course launch

Having supported the development of the IPIECA Global Water Tool for Oil and Gas (a customised version of the WBCSD Global Water Tool) (GWT) and the GEMI® Local Water Tool for Oil and Gas™ (LWT), IPIECA is eager to ensure that members and the wider oil and gas industry are able to use these tools successfully. In order to maximize usage, we developed an online e-learning course.
The Water risk assessment e-learning training course aims to improve uptake and implementation whilst helping companies effectively, efficiently and easily monitor, assess and manage water risks.
Through various interactive and flexible units, the course provides managers with an overview of water risks in the oil and gas sector; and practitioners with a thorough overview of how to use and interpret outputs from both the GWT and LWT.
IPIECA encourages the oil and gas industry to take advantage of this great resource, to learn how, at your own pace, to use these water risk assessment tools and make a difference to the communities you operate in.
The course includes:
  • A completely flexible approach whereby users can work through at any pace and complete the units in any order. It is estimated that completing all the units would take approximately two hours.
  • A voiceover accompaniment to complement the text and highlight key messages – this can be switched off using the mute button.
  • Quiz questions at the end of each unit ensure your understanding – please be assured answers are not recorded or timed.
How the tool is deployed within your company is also flexible, for example:
  • You may want to simply include it as part of training plans with selected staff that is undertaken, at the trainees pace;
  • Use the training in a facilitated training session;
  • Use individual modules to explain different aspects of water risk management; or
  • Link to existing, in-house training.
If you have any feedback, comments or questions about the course, please contact us – we would be happy to hear from you. IPIECA may update the course and release a version 2 in the future so we would welcome any constructive input.
To use the new IPIECA Water risk assessment e-learning training course please click the button below. For a brief overview of the aims and content of the E-learning Course, please watch our new promotional video.
 

 
If you wish to learn more about water risk assessment tools then IPIECA’s Review of water risk tools (2014) is available to read and download.

 
January 19, 2016 Comments are off Kellen
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Saving Energy, Water and Time by Keeping Our Air Fleet Clean – FedEx

Keeping a fleet of vehicles clean is a necessary, but important task for businesses whose calling card is their livery and the condition of which reflects directly on the brand – good or bad. But when your fleet includes aircraft, the task takes on a whole new level of complexity.

After all, it’s hardly possible to call into the local car wash with a 767.

Maintaining the cleanliness of planes is imperative because a film of dirt may mask cracks or cause fittings to wear excessively. And during the winter months, the de-icing process attracts more dirt to the fuselage and so the colder it gets, the more cleaning is required, which of course comes at a cost, to both the bottom line and to the environment.

That’s why FedEx Express has introduced a new, more eco-friendly fuselage cleaning procedure for the 13 aircraft serving Europe from its Roissy-Charles De Gaulle hub in Paris, France. Using a ‘moist-cleaning’ method that does not leave water on the tarmac developed and implemented by a local company (UDDS), the new procedure drives a number of benefits:

  • Energy saving: the cleaner the fuselage, the more aerodynamic the aircraft, reducing fuel consumption. Crews can also manually clean aircraft where they park, saving on towing vehicle fuel and the electricity to power automated washing equipment.
  • Water saving: the eco-friendly process uses 100 times less water than with conventional methods. In real terms this means 100 litres of water are used and disposed of instead of 10,000.
  • Time saving: maintenance can be carried out at the same time as cleaning, meaning aircraft are grounded for a shorter period of time.

We think this a great example of aligning citizenship goals with business goals to create the greatest impact – a ‘win-win’ situation for FedEx and for the environment.

To learn more about FedEx sustainability efforts, visit csr.fedex.com.

See more at: http://3blmedia.com/News/Saving-Energy-Water-and-Time-Keeping-Our-Air-Fleet-Clean#sthash.z4p5Omfp.dpuf

November 6, 2015 Comments are off Kellen
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Saving Water in McDonalds Washrooms in India

McDonald’s India is paying careful attention to its water use given its status in a country with severe water challenges. According to The Water Project, India’s population, which is three times that of the United States, is the second largest in the world.  Due to water contamination, the country experiences significantly high diseases caused by an unsafe water supply and only 33% of the country has access to traditional sanitation. Approximately 1,000 children in India die daily from diseases caused by contaminated water, according to The Economist.  An examination of water risks within restaurants identified the heavily used washrooms as a significant source of water consumption. In looking to address this challenge, McDonald’s asked Sealed Air’s Diversey Care team for a solution to help reduce water consumption in public and staff amenities.

McDonald’s India and Sealed Air Diversey Care teams quickly identified Diversey’s Flush-Me Not program which consists of waterless urinals that provide odor and stain control along with water savings in washrooms. The program consists of a urinal screen with embedded fragrance and a cleaning chemical spray. This program led to McDonald’s India achieving significant reductions in water use in 2014. Through the Diversey program, every urinal can become a waterless version saving up to 60% of water used without using expensive equipment. The solution is affordable and provides significant reductions in water use in washrooms.

The project, a critical component to help McDonald’s reach its water stewardship goals, was implemented at approximately 70 restaurants in India. The results for McDonald’s India were exemplary; approximately 1,700,000 gallons of water were saved from going down the drain over a 12-month period, and McDonald’s is in the process of replicating the program in more of its restaurants. The water saved in one year of the Sealed Air Diversey Care Flush-Me-Not program was enough to provide water for over 33,000 people for one day, a significant impact on India’s water challenge.

To read more about Sealed Air’s sustainability programs, please see our 2014 Sustainability Report.

See more at: http://3blmedia.com/News/Saving-Water-McDonalds-Washrooms-India#sthash.t0C86jaL.dpuf