Integration of Net Zero Water model concept for sustainable water management with sustainability management programs at field operating facilities: a case of military deployed camps

The Net Zero Water (NZW) concept is a new model concept and approach to solving water sustainability challenges at deployed military camps. Integrating a NZW model concept with organizations’ sustainability management... [ view full abstract ]

The Net Zero Water (NZW) concept is a new model concept and approach to solving water sustainability challenges at deployed military camps. Integrating a NZW model concept with organizations’ sustainability management programs at deployed military camps can minimize adverse impacts and create values for internal and external stakeholders. Further benefits are realized by integrating with resource-specific programs such as energy and waste management.

The Net Zero concept was introduced by the U.S. Army to address potential threats to continued military missions at Army installations and deployed military camps. It is a hierarchical process that starts with reducing resource use and progresses through repurposing, recycling, recovery, and final disposition. Sustainability values realized from this process include financial benefits, maintenance of mission capability, quality of life, relationships with local communities, and preservation of options for the military’s future.

A case study involving a survey on values essential for setting priorities for sustainable management systems was conducted within the defense organizations of NATO member and partner nations. Military organizations within NATO member and partner countries have established programs and policies for interoperability, standardization and best environmental practices for Net Zero Water, Energy and Waste for deployed military camps in international locations.  Addressing and managing impacts on ecological and social systems requires knowledge about integrating sustainable resource management at deployed military camps.  Differences among military organizations and their missions may result in different sets of values and such values represent organizations’ commitments and responsibilities towards various stakeholders. 

  Military organizations need to acknowledge existing values in labeling their water management as “sustainable”.  These sets of values can be explicitly mapped and formally acknowledged by decision-makers and can be incorporated into their management concepts and tools.  Ranking the values of both internal and external stakeholders is essential for establishing the priorities of sustainability management systems.