What is the Water Cycle? How Does It Happen?

In the context of corporate sustainability and environmental management, the question of what is the water cycle refers to the interaction of industrial activities with natural water resources and the "cradle-to-grave" use of water. For businesses, the answer to the question of how the water cycle is formed is shaped by the withdrawal of water from nature, its use in production processes, its treatment and its discharge back into nature or into another production process.

One of the main objectives of environmental sustainability today is to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. In this context, how companies manage water throughout their operations and supply chains is measured and reported through water footprint standards (e.g. ISO 14046). Closed systems established by businesses aim to alleviate pressure on the natural water cycle.

What are the Stages of the Water Cycle?

The stages of the water cycle at the industrial and corporate level aim to reuse water as part of the circular economy, as opposed to the traditional "take-make-dispose" linear model. The main stages in companies' water management processes are:

Withdrawal & Consumption: The first stage of the cycle is the withdrawal of water from sources such as groundwater, rainwater or municipal water. A critical metric is whether the area from which water is withdrawn is under "water-stress". Consumption refers to water that evaporates or remains in the product and does not directly return to nature.

Use and Closed Loop: Industries (e.g. textiles, agriculture, mining) use water intensively during the production phase. In systems designed with circular economy principles, water is treated and reused in the same facility.

Discharge and Treatment: This is the stage where the used water is purified from pollutants such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and suspended solids (wastewater treatment) and released to nature in a quality that meets standards.

An example of a successful water cycle is the Kalundborg Eco-Industrial Park in Denmark. In this industrial symbiosis model, companies share wastewater and heat with each other; for example, the waste steam (water) from a plant is piped to heat local homes and a fish farm. This creates a cycle that dramatically reduces waste and emissions. Another example is Unilever's reduction in water use per product, providing both environmental benefits and financial growth.

What is the Impact of the Water Cycle on Nature and People?

The impact of industrial water cycle management on nature and people is directly related to planetary boundaries. Excessive consumption or pollution of natural water resources by companies leads to water scarcity and damage to aquatic ecosystems.

The management and reporting of these impacts is now mandated by global frameworks such as the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) 303 standard.

Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Pollution of water resources directly threatens biodiversity. Inadequate water treatment is not only an environmental risk, but also a risk of penalties and reputational damage for companies.

Climate Adaptation: Increased drought or extreme rainfall (floods) due to climate change disrupts the natural water cycle. Making water resources "drought-proofing", harvesting rainwater or installing recycling systems are all climate adaptation strategies.

As a result, measurement in accordance with ISO 14046 Water Footprint standards through platforms such as CimpactPro enables companies to minimize the damage they cause to the natural water cycle and combat the climate crisis in a more resilient way.