URB-C.05.A - Water Pollutant Reporting
Does the company report on its water pollutants?
About the data
The WBA Urban Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to shape sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban environments, tracking how companies address essential urban needs while respecting planetary boundaries across dimensions including decent work and human rights, environmental and climate impacts, social inclusion, and sustainability leadership. The 2026 edition assessed 300 companies across four key industries shaping urban environments: real estate, construction and engineering, transport, and utilities. Companies were scored on 24 urban-specific indicators plus 18 core social indicators, spanning four measurement areas: sustainable governance, inclusive cities, healthy cities, and climate change and resilient cities. The benchmark is designed to incentivise the private sector to take adequate responsibility for its role in ensuring affordable, safe and inclusive urban environments for all. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Approximately 80% of global wastewater is untreated when released back into the
environment, causing significant negative effects on both ecosystem functioning and human health
(IUCN, 2017). Companies operating in urban environments contribute directly to water quality. Urban
transport, for instance, impacts water quality through runoff of pollutants such as oil, heavy metals
and debris from roads and parking lots. Similarly, the construction industry impacts water quality
through sediment runoff, erosion and the release of pollutants during construction activities.
Companies must increase their monitoring, reporting and effective implementation of measures to
minimise their impact on water quality.
Research Guidance
The company must report data on its discharge of water pollutants. Examples of water pollutants that companies could report on include:
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
heavy metals (e.g. mercury, lead, zinc)
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) (e.g. solvents, pesticides, synthetics)
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Pesticides
Reporting must cover the company's entire operations. Datapoint must be from the most recent reporting period. Intensity metrics are not accepted
environment, causing significant negative effects on both ecosystem functioning and human health
(IUCN, 2017). Companies operating in urban environments contribute directly to water quality. Urban
transport, for instance, impacts water quality through runoff of pollutants such as oil, heavy metals
and debris from roads and parking lots. Similarly, the construction industry impacts water quality
through sediment runoff, erosion and the release of pollutants during construction activities.
Companies must increase their monitoring, reporting and effective implementation of measures to
minimise their impact on water quality.
Research Guidance
The company must report data on its discharge of water pollutants. Examples of water pollutants that companies could report on include:
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
heavy metals (e.g. mercury, lead, zinc)
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) (e.g. solvents, pesticides, synthetics)
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Pesticides
Reporting must cover the company's entire operations. Datapoint must be from the most recent reporting period. Intensity metrics are not accepted
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report