Water Stewardship

Helping Protect Water & Watersheds for Long-Term Sustainability

At BlueTriton, water stewardship is more than just a goal - it’s a fundamental part of how we do business. We responsibly manage more than 40 springs and over 20,000 acres of watershed and wetlands area to help assure a steady supply of clean, safe drinking water. We understand the importance of water for our environment, for biodiversity, and for the local communities we call home. As a responsible business, we’re committed to helping address the challenges of water scarcity, quality, and access in the regions where we operate. Our goal is to promote healthy hydration that is environmentally sustainable and socially equitable, through a process that involves site- and watershed-based actions to reduce water risks and enhance resiliency. 

We engage where it is most needed in response to local water challenges and in collaboration with our stakeholders. We are partnering with the World Resources Institute (WRI) to inform our water stewardship targets as we pursue a data-driven, risk-based approach based on local contexts. Our goals are based on what we believe is currently the best available science and methods. We aim to publish the results of this review in 2024.

Our Goals*

  • SPRINGS & WATERSHED AREA*

    • Manage recharge area and forested land owned by BlueTriton for conservation and long-term sustainability

    • By 2030, aim to replenish 100% of water used or displaced by our sites in priority regions facing shared water challenges

  • OPERATIONS*

    • By 2024, publish water monitoring reports for all owned spring sites, even when not required by permit 

    • Maintain independent water stewardship verification through 2030 for our full enterprise and aim for 100% of our sites in priority regions

  • COMMUNITIES*

    • Invest in water infrastructure to improve access to safe drinking water for underserved communities 

    • Donate drinking water to communities that lack access due to poor water quality or natural disasters 

Why Prioritize Water Stewardship?

Water is essential for all life forms, and its availability and quality are crucial for ecosystems and human health. Yet, many regions face water scarcity or poor water quality due to climate change, population growth, pollution, and excessive groundwater extraction. The responsible sourcing of water is vital to achieve reliable access to clean drinking water without harming ecosystems. 

Water stewardship emphasizes the responsible management and conservation of water resources for their long-term sustainability and availability for both human and ecological needs. It involves not only efficient water use but also active engagement with stakeholders, including local communities, businesses, and governments, to promote equitable access and protection of water sources. 

Tackling the Challenges

Addressing water scarcity presents significant challenges. One obstacle is the rising demand for water due to population growth and industrial and agricultural expansion, which strains naturally renewable yet limited resources. Climate change exacerbates this issue by altering precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, further stressing water systems. Additionally, poor water governance, inadequate infrastructure, and competing interests among various users can hinder effective water management efforts. 

Addressing water scarcity requires tackling social, economic, and political barriers. Inequitable access to water can intensify disparities and social tensions, particularly for marginalized communities. Balancing competing water needs among sectors such as agriculture, industry, and municipal supply also poses a significant challenge. 

To help overcome these challenges and achieve effective water stewardship, concerted efforts are needed at multiple levels. These include implementing water-efficient technologies, investing in infrastructure upgrades, promoting water conservation practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Moreover, it is essential to address underlying issues of governance, equity, and sustainability to help realize a resilient water future for all. 

BlueTriton’s Role

BlueTriton is committed to the responsible sourcing of spring water. Our mission of "Healthy Hydration for Everyone, Everywhere, Always" reflects this dedication. We emphasize stewardship that includes protecting and enhancing the benefits of water resources for local communities and preserving our company’s ability to operate as a sustainable business in the long-term. We invest in water infrastructure and treatment technologies and adhere to regulatory standards to ensure water quality. Through transparent communication and community engagement, we aim to contribute positively to the health and resilience of the springs and lands we manage, in alignment with local water management plans. 

Information for Stakeholders

BlueTriton is committed to transparency and open dialogue, and we welcome inquiries from our stakeholders, customers, and consumers. If you have questions or comments about water stewardship, our commitments, or our progress, please contact btbsustainability@bluetriton.com.

*Footnotes:

  1. Our commitments, targets, aims and goals may change over time for many reasons, such as, evolving and changing nature of, or availability of, standards, changes to business as well as changes in business priorities and stakeholder significance, new industry practices, technology or science, or changes to law or regulatory guidance. Overall, historical, current, and forward-looking ESG-related (including sustainability-related) statements may be based on standards that are still developing or may be revoked, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future, such as unexpected delays, difficulties, and expenses in executing against, or changes in laws, enforcement, investor sentiment or demands, or litigation, relating to or otherwise affecting our execution of, the goals included on this webpage. The information and opinions contained on this webpage are subject to change without notice. BlueTriton Brands Inc. does not undertake to update or revise any of the statements or goals contained on this webpage.

  2. "Priority Regions" are determined based on presence and severity of water-related challenges shared by BlueTriton and local communities such as water availability, quality, and access. The identified priority regions may change over time due to evolving science, information, or local conditions or due to acquisitions, divestitures, or major changes to our operations. We have identified seven sites located in priority regions based on water availability challenges identified in WWF’s Water Risk Filter and WRI’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. Together they currently account for less than 10% of our total operational water use.

  3. “Water used or displaced” represents the volume of consumptive water use for BlueTriton products (e.g. water contained in final products) and the volume of non-product water use which results in water being moved outside of the local watershed (e.g. evaporated water or wastewater treated by an off-site facility not located in the site’s watershed).  

  4. “Replenish” refers the volumetric water benefits associated qualifying activities completed by, or on behalf of, BlueTriton as verified by a 3rd party against the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) 1.0 guidance or forthcoming guidance from VWBA 2.0 or the Science Based Targets Network Freshwater Hub.