H2oAlliance

Water neutral – A good, service, individual consumer, community or business is water neutral when the negative externalities of the water footprint of the good, service, individual consumer, community or business have been reduced and offset. To be ‘water neutral’ there are two conditions: first, all what is ‘reasonably possible’ should have been done to reduce the existing water footprint; and second, the impacts of the residual water footprint are offset by making a ‘reasonable investment’ in establishing or supporting projects that aim at the sustainable and equitable use of water.

Water offset – Offsetting the negative impacts of a water footprint is a part of water neutrality.

Nullification of negative externalities – In some particular cases, when interference with the water cycle can be completely avoided – e.g. by full water recycling and zero waste – ‘water neutral’ means that the water footprint is nullified; in many other cases, like in the case of crop growth, water use cannot be nullified. Therefore ‘water neutral’ generally does not mean that water use is brought down to zero, but that the negative economic, social and environmental externalities are reduced as much as possible and that the remaining impacts are fully compensated. Compensation can be done by contributing to (investing in) a more sustainable and equitable use of water in the hydrological units in which the impacts of the remaining water footprint are located.