|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to the Environmental Approach Page
Water
What is the challenge?
Fresh water is becoming an increasingly scarce global resource, and this is especially problematic in Southern Europe. Therefore there is a growing need to conserve fresh water, as much as possible, and to prevent pollution of water resources.
The property industry can contribute to water pollution through the high extraction and use of water needs, and the paving over of previously porous land surfaces causing surface water run-off and potential contamination.
The construction process itself can cause water pollution incidents if hazardous materials are spilt on site and leach into nearby water resources.
What is Sonae Sierra doing about it?
DEVELOPMENT
Water use
Water efficient designs, including equipment specifications and water recycling engineering solutions are covered within the ESRD standards. Where feasible, we seek to design rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling systems to reduce the need for mains water consumption. In fit out, we set requirements for water efficient sanitary equipments (such as spray taps and low flush toilets) and we also provide instructions to avoid using water-intensive plant species in landscaped areas as well as specifying efficient irrigation systems.
Emissions to water
During design, we are committed to incorporating measures that will reduce the impact of pollution on local water supplies. For instance, to prevent pollution from rainwater run-off we utilise filter drains, in addition to specifying porous paving, in paved areas. At the designs phase, specifications for wastewater separation in the drainage system and also for wastewater pre-treatment equipments such as: oil separators and hydrocarbons separators, are guaranteed through the ESRD.
During the construction works, we also place exacting demands upon our contractors to avoid the risk of water pollution from construction activities.
MANAGEMENT
Water use
We are committed to improving the efficiency of water usage within our centres. Water efficient appliances (e.g. low flush WC and sensory taps) are specified for refurbishments, and management procedures are in place to restrict water use where appropriate.
Sonae Sierra has been measuring, monitoring and targeting water usage in its shopping centres since 2003. The data collection and monitoring function is achieved through a centralised online working database which allows centre management teams to input environmental performance data of individual centres, and to generate reports on water performance including comparisons across the Sonae Sierra’s portfolio. This information is used to identify unusually high usage patterns, and to put in place management measures for tighter control of water usage. Our long term objective is to strive to keep water consumption at or below 4 litres/ visit/ year. We did in fact achieve our long-term objective in 2007, as we attained a global water efficiency was 4.0 litres per visit per year, and consequently we will re-evaluate whether or not we should alter this long-term objective.
Emissions to water
Beyond specified legal requirements with regards to wastewater quality, we recently evaluated the appropriateness and feasibility of setting a wastewater quality standard across the portfolio. Currently, the quality of wastewater discharges is regularly analysed by externally certified laboratories, in order to control the contamination level of our discharges to sewers, streams, etc. The main bio-chemical parameters analysed are: - Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5); - Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD); - Grease; - Hydrocarbons; - Total Suspend Solids (TSS); - Turbidity and - pH (i.e. alkalinity and acidity). Through this control it is possible to prevent and to correct direct and diffuse pollution sources.
Sonae Sierra KPI
Sonae Sierra has chosen water efficiency (litres/visit) as KPI, to measure our performance under Water Issue.
|
|
|
|
|