Water Neutrality & Water Positivity Certification

Water neutrality refers to the state in which an organization balances its water debit (water withdrawn) with water credit (water returned). Additionally, it refers to minimizing negative environmental, social and economic externalities due to water use. The goal is to achieve net-zero water impact, typically by investing in rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, or wastewater reuse initiatives.

Water positivity goes a step further: it denotes a condition in which an organisation returns more water to the environment than it withdraws, creating a net-beneficial impact. Leading examples include commitments from global entities like Microsoft, Intel, and Coca-Cola, many of which are already being emulated in India.

Organisations operating in water-intensive sectors—such as textiles, food and beverage, pharma, energy, and mining—face growing scrutiny from regulators, investors, and local communities. Certification provides:

• Regulatory alignment: Supports compliance with CGWA, CPCB, and state-level groundwater recharge mandates.
• ESG readiness: Enhances transparency in BRSR, CDP Water, and sustainability-linked financing frameworks.
• Operational resilience: Reduces freshwater dependency through closed-loop and rainwater-based systems.
• Stakeholder credibility: Demonstrates verified commitment to water stewardship and CSR (corporate social responsibility).
• Risk mitigation: Addresses water stress vulnerabilities, source disruption, and reputational exposure.

DQS certification offers structured assurance that your organisation meets measurable water balance criteria, in line with national and international benchmarks.

DQS India offers end-to-end verification services tailored to your facility type, sector, and location:

1. Baseline Assessment
   1. Quantification of gross water withdrawal, consumption, and discharge.
   2. Site-specific water balance mapping and source stress analysis.
       
2. Gap Analysis
   1. Evaluation against ISO 46001, GRI 303, CGWA obligations, and neutrality/positivity benchmarks.
   2. Identification of high-impact reduction and offsetting strategies.
       
3. Implementation Support
   1. Internal reuse optimisation, rainwater harvesting systems, watershed projects.
   2. WPI (Water Positive Index) calculations using water consumption within the fence, beyond the fence, and that consumed by the supply chain. Based on this, the company may be provided with a positive, neutral or negative water status. 
       
4. Verification & Validation
   1. On-site audit of reductions and replenishment volumes.
   2. Evaluation of Water neutrality.
       
5. Certification Issuance
   1. Award of Water Neutrality / Water Positivity Certification with audit summary.
   2. Valid for one year, with surveillance or recertification based on scope.

With sustainability reporting steadily maturing in India, water-related disclosures have become important in ESG frameworks. Certifications in water neutrality or water positivity help companies showcase structured and auditable commitments towards sustainable water use.

Relevant reporting frameworks include:

A. SEBI’s BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report):
Companies are required to disclose:

• total water withdrawal
• water recycled
• Water reused, and
• Source dependency

DQS India’s certification can lend credence to these disclosures with validated data and third-party assurance.

The cost of a water neutrality or a water positivity certificate in India depends on a multitude factors, including but not limited to:

• The sector in question
• Size of the facility
• Total number of facilities to be covered (in case there are more than one)
• Total number of water input and output points
• Sector specific compliance requirements
• Requirement for fresh baseline study and benchmarking

The dynamic scope demands an adaptive approach to cost management. DQS India follows the same, given that costs are determined by a wide variety of factors, not all of which is applicable en masse.

DQS India is a trusted partner for water stewardship assurance, with deep expertise in standards-based certification and sustainability evaluation.

• Accredited Methodology: Aligned to ISO 46001:2019, ISO 14046, CGWA compliance models, and UN SDG indicators.
• Technical Rigor: Sector-specific auditors with environmental expertise.
• Pan-India Reach: Audits conducted across states and union territories
• Credible Verification: All claims validated through site data, telemetry, and volumetric accounting. Contrasted and mapped with sectoral benchmarks. 

Integrated Assurance: Combine with environmental, and ESG audits under a unified framework.