Strategic Focus: Industrial Water Risk Criticality
Access this research
Access all EHSQ Corporate Leaders content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report
Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance
Executive Summary
Over the past decade, the criticality of water for industrial operations has become increasingly apparent, as climate change, ESG reporting and public perception have altered historical norms. The role of water as a key component for almost every industry – either directly in production, or along the value chain – is elevating it within risk functions as a direct concern. An enhanced perception of the significance of water is driving an evolution in how firms view water risk and manage their water usage, and is spurring greater investment in novel solutions that can transform water management. As climate change continues to influence water scarcity and alter precipitation patterns, risk functions will be forced to apply the same level of concern to water as is currently directed towards carbon.The focus on water management is shifting away from pure compliance
Climate change and ESG risks are driving concerns
No industry sector is safe, but some are at higher risk than others
Innovation and funding are driving solution generation and creativity, to tackle looming water risk
Figure 2. 2015 water withdrawal and usage by category (billion litres per day)
About the Authors
Nathan Goldstein
Senior Manager
Nathan is a Senior Manager at Verdantix, specializing in EHS software and the convergence of sustainability, EHS and operational risk. He leads research that helps corporate d...
View Profile
Bill Pennington
VP Research
Bill is VP Research at Verdantix, where he leads analysis on the evolving and interconnected landscapes of EHS, quality, AI and enterprise risk management. His research helps ...
View ProfileOther related content
In early September, the Verdantix Safety Council held its quarterly roundtable, where EHS leaders discussed their priorities and challenges. This particular meeting highlighted thr...
04 November, 2025
Negligence is a safety manager’s worst nightmare, and it can happen in many ways: an absence of a risk assessment, improper vetting, substandard process design or poor decision-mak...
30 October, 2025
EHS practitioners are talking with their wallets: 45% state that they are increasing their annual spend on occupational health. A core focus within this category is supporting po...
15 October, 2025
Asset integrity is key to an effective asset strategy, and new technology is transforming the space. After 30 years of reliance on manual inspections, developments in AI and comput...
Upcoming / 25 November, 2025
Struggling to secure buy-in for your EHS AI initiatives? You’re in good company. Over half of EHS leaders cite a lack of budget allocation for AI investment and 86% report that the...
Upcoming / 11 November, 2025
The role of the EHS and Sustainability leader has never been more complex — or more critical. No longer confined to compliance, today’s leaders must influence strategy, unite globa...
06 November, 2025