Since its initial publication in 2019, Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) has been broadly adopted and is regarded as a best-practice resource for providing transparent, credible, and comparable methodologies to quantify volumetric water benefits (VWBs) derived from water stewardship activities. The release of VWBA 2.0 represents a methodological advancement, responding to an identified need for expanded and refined guidance on VWBs. This update incorporates insights and empirical lessons from years of practical application to strengthen the guidance use for real-world implementation.
Developed through extensive partner consultation, this guidebook offers a six-step process and describes how to do the following: gain an understanding of the local context and shared water challenges; identify and evaluate potential projects and partners; credibly quantify volumetric water benefits; plan and agree to a project; implement projects and track progress; and communicate claims. This principle-based, voluntary, and nonprescriptive guidance is designed for water stewardship practitioners and companies seeking to make consistent, credible volumetric water benefit claims across diverse geographies and water stewardship activities.