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“Protecting Profits in a Water Scarce World –
The 10 R’s of Water Management”
By Thera N. Kalmijn and R. Paul Herman
While our bodies are more than half water (highest when you are born, decreases over time) and the earth is two-thirds
covered by H2O, we can’t easily tap either of these sources. Less than 1% of the world’s fresh
water is available for human use - leading to severe negative human impact: 3.5 million people die each
year from water related diseases like diarrheas, and almost 1 billion people do not have ready access to safe water supplies.
By 2025, projections estimate more than 50% of the world’s population will not have access to water, suffer health issues
be engaged in water conflicts, or a similar challenge1. These
challenges also risk profitability, revenue, jobs and energy volatility. A temporary shutdown of a semiconductor
plant could cost Intel or Texas Instruments $200 million in revenue2. In 2001, hydroelectric
power shortages forced the shutdown of aluminum plant smelters in the Pacific Northwest, resulting in the loss of 8,000 jobs3.
In 2007, “drought in Ghana severely reduced hydropower production, forcing Unilever Ghana to cut power consumption by
25% and purchase expensive diesel generators to make up for lost power from the grid.”4 Hence, leading companies are starting to pursue excellence
in water management as a potential to deliver both Human Impact + Profit1. How can managing
water be more HIP? In three ways: selling products that solve a human need, improving everyday operations,
and new management practices. SureGround has developed a unique framework just on water management - to
assess how much Gain and Good can be realized, or is at risk. Read more...
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