Higg FEM 2025: Get to know the Wastewater section webinar video (1hr 25m)

Hello, and welcome to today's webinar. My name is Leah Jaggars, and I'm the senior education manager here at Worldly. Today, we're going to discuss the wastewater section and how to report your data. Before we get started, here are some logistics for the session. All attendees are muted for the duration of the webinar. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation, so please submit your questions into the Q and A box as you think of them so that they are captured. Any questions that I cannot get to during the session will be answered in a follow-up email as long as they are submitted through the Q and A box. This session is being recorded, and I will share the recording with all registrants afterwards along with Q and A report. We have simultaneous interpretation available in, Chinese and Vietnamese today, so please select your preferred language through the interpretation icon. There are also machine generated closed captions in English as well as multiple languages through the CC icon. Here's the agenda for today. First, we'll review a quick overview of the Higg FEM. Then, we'll review key concepts and definitions in the wastewater section. Then we'll go over some best practices for collecting data in preparation for filling out the assessment as well as applicability questions. Then we'll get into all of the questions in the wastewater section. If we have time, we'll cover some additional resources, but I wanna make sure that we have time for a short demonstration as well as questions and answers. So with that, let's get into it. Before we get into the details of the Higg FEM and the wastewater section, it's helpful to understand who Cascale and Worldly are and their relationship to the Higg Index, which includes the Higg FEM assessment. Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance for the consumer goods industry who owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on the Worldly platform, the industry's leading sustainability data insights platform. The Higg Index is a set of tools that assess social and environmental performance across various aspects, such as water use, carbon emissions, and labor conditions. There is a network of over forty thousand Higg Index users today, which includes brands, retailers, manufacturers, governments, and NGOs. Together, Cascale and Worldly provide regular updates to the Higg index to ensure they evolve to meet your needs. In short, Cascale develops the underpinning logic and questions of the Higg FVM, and Worldly is the software platform that supports data collection and analysis for the assessment. One of Cascale's partner organizations, the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Group, or ZDHC, leads the fashion industry to eliminate harmful chemicals from its global supply chain by building the foundation for more sustainable manufacturing to protect workers, consumers, and our planet's ecosystems. ZDHC has developed a variety of chemical and wastewater resources that are referenced throughout the Higg FEM guidance. For more information on the ZDHC, its initiatives, and resources, we encourage you to visit the links throughout the guidance or visit their website here. And I'm sharing a link in the resources section. So there's the link to the website if you'd like to learn more. So now let's review the FEM overall very briefly before we dive into the wastewater section. The Higg FEM is a transformative tool developed by our partners at Cascale, used to assess the environmental impact of product manufacturing at facilities. The Higg FEM paints a clear picture of a facility's environmental impacts. The Higg FEM is an assessment or questionnaire that covers the following topics, environmental management systems, energy use and greenhouse gas, water use, wastewater, air emissions, waste management, and chemical management. Cascale provides detailed guidance on each section and questions in the assessment where you can learn more. Each of these sections help you understand how your facility impacts your environment and also provides ideas for improvements in different programs that you can implement or participate in to improve your performance and engagement with sustainable practices. I'm sharing a link to the updated PDF right now where you can download the guidance in multiple languages. Within each section of the FEM, there are applicability questions and then three levels of questions. Applicability questions are questions you answer before the main section questions so that the assessment configures the rest of the questions to those that are relevant to your facility. For example, if you do not have any industrial wastewater, you won't be asked questions related to that. After you answer applicability questions, you move into level one questions. Level one contains questions around awareness and basic systems. Level two contains questions around baselines, targets, and improvements. Level three contains questions around leading aspirational practices. If you do not achieve level one, you are not required to answer level two and three, but you may optionally open those levels if you wish to answer additional questions voluntarily or as a requirement of a business partner. The wastewater section is divided into three levels. Level one has eighteen questions. Level two has nine questions, and level three has four questions. All questions may have additional sub questions associated with them. We will get more into what the levels contain further on in the session. Now that we've learned more about what the FEM contains and general components of the assessment, here is an overview of the FEM process. First, you will review the assessment questions and gather data from various sources. This is something you can start now, especially if this is your first time completing the assessment. Also, during this time, you can identify any gaps in data or processes that you can mitigate and optionally arrange additional training. And I'm sharing a link in I didn't actually get this into the resources section in advance. Sorry about that. But this is being shared in the chat now to the Higg FEM training bodies if you need to arrange additional training. Then step two is completing the self assessment in the Worldly platform. If you have previously completed an FEM, you can roll forward previous responses to questions that don't really change like your site information. If you use facility data manager, you can also import twelve months of quantitative data into your FEM to save time. Either way, you can review your data for accuracy and update anything, you import if you identify any errors. Once you have completed the assessment, you will post it in the platform. Please note that posting is now available as it is now January as you need the full twelve months of data from twenty twenty five. The next step would be if you are getting your assessment verified to arrange verification with an approved verification body. And I'm sharing a link to the verification body list in the chat as well. Then you can share your self assessment or verified assessment with your business partners on the platform. Check with your business partners for any requirements and deadlines. Finally, you can use Insights Hub to understand where your facility is doing well and where you can improve. Then during the year, you can use this information and analysis to plan changes and improvements and repeat the cycle. Now that we've reviewed what the Higg FEM includes, let's discuss some key concepts and definitions that will help you understand the questions being asked in this section. So first is different types of wastewater. So there's three main sources of wastewater that are captured within the assessment, and understanding where your wastewater comes from is crucial for effective treatment and environmental protection. So first is domestic wastewater. Domestic wastewater is defined as wastewater originating from domestic or sanitary usage such as toilets, bathing, personal laundry, and kitchens. Basically, any water that's used at the facility for other purposes than production. This can include things like toilets, showers, sinks, washing machines, not used for production, etcetera. Any industrial wastewater, on the other hand, is water that has been used for manufacturing processes and no longer meets the quality standard for beneficial use. So this would be any water used in production, lubrication, cooling, maintenance, cleaning of machines, etcetera, as well as, like, dye, water, things like that. And then finally, storm water is water that originates from precipitation that accumulates on and runs off roofs, hard standing surfaces, such as parking lots, etcetera, and sometimes referred to as surface runoff. Next, I wanted to define the different types of wastewater treatment that are available when you're answering questions. I want to note that some of the images that you see on screen are coming directly from the ZDHC waste water guidelines, which I shared a link to earlier and will be included in the follow-up resources for this session. Just as a note as well, I will be sending the slide deck as well as all of the links that I'm sharing throughout this webinar along with a recording to everybody that registered. So the first way to wastewater treatment location is on-site wastewater treatment only. This is treatment that is performed on-site at a facility in a wastewater treatment plant used, managed, and operated by the facility. After on-site treatment, the wastewater is discharged directly to the environment. So within this image as well, I wanna note that the dotted line is indicating the supplier's property boundary. So keep that in mind as you see these different diagrams moving forward. Next is zero liquid discharge or ZLD. ZLD is a type of on-site treatment that is designed so that no water leaves the facility in liquid form. At a facility with on-site ZLD treatment systems, almost all wastewater is treated and recovered such that the only water discharged from the facility exists by evaporation or as moisture in the sludge from treatment plant operations. A facility is not considered to have a zero liquid discharge treatment system if there is any industrial liquid discharge. I do also want to note that this doesn't mean that you have no wastewater. So that is a common misconception is that if you have no wastewater, you're a zero liquid discharge facility. This is a very specific type of treatment that is occurring at the facility, and doesn't mean that you have no industrial or domestic wastewater. Next is on-site wastewater treatment and off-site treatment. So this is treatment that is initially performed on-site at a facility and then discharged to an off-site third party treatment plant for additional treatment, also referred to as partial on-site treatment. In this diagram, as I mentioned before, the dotted line represents the facility boundaries. So in this case, there is some wastewater treatment that occurs on-site before it's going to a third party. The facility is not discharging wastewater directly to the environment. Next is off-site wastewater treatment only. So this is where no treatment is performed on-site. Only treatment is performed off-site by a third party wastewater treatment service provider, which may be a government, like a public utility, or privately owned and operated. With off-site treatment, the facility's untreated wastewater is discharged directly to the off-site treatment facility. In this case, the wastewater is not treated in any way within the boundaries and is only discharged to the third party treatment plant. Next are septic systems. Septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures that use a combination of natural and primary processes to treat wastewater. The process typically involves solids settling within the septic tank and ends with wastewater being discharged to the soil via a drain field. Septic systems apply to domestic wastewater only. Now that we have reviewed some key definitions and concepts, let's review the applicability questions in the wastewater section. And I do want to note that these applicability questions are very important because it will drastically change which questions it asks you in the rest of the section. So the first applicability question is, does your facility generate industrial wastewater? Like we discussed before, wastewater falls into domestic and industrial. So to answer this question, take these activities into consideration. If you have wastewater from production processes, facility maintenance, waste gas treatment facility wastewater, coal waste, or sludge pile leachate, or contact cooling water, that falls into industrial wastewater. Please review the guidelines for full definitions. The next applicability question asks if your facility has zero liquid discharge. Again, like we mentioned before, ZLD is a type of on-site treatment that is designed so that no water leaves the facility in liquid form. At a facility with on-site ZLD treatment, almost all wastewater is treated and recovered such that only the water discharge from the facility exists by evaporation or moisture in the sludge from treatment plant operations. So, again, the definition is zero wastewater leaves the facility at all in liquid form. So all of the wastewater is treated and reused, evaporated, or moisture in sludge. If you have any water leaving your facility in liquid form, including domestic, that means that you do not have a zero liquid discharge facility. So this question was one of the most commonly missed questions or, like, inaccurately answered questions generally. So just wanna make sure that everybody understands the definition there. The next applicability question is, do you treat industrial and domestic wastewater together? This applicability question asks if you combine your wastewater treatment and will open additional applicability questions depending on how you respond. Answer yes if both wastewater from domestic purposes such as bathrooms and kitchens, and your wastewater generated from production purposes are combined before being treated together. You will then answer where your combined wastewater is treated from these options. If you answer no to this question, you will be able to answer how wastewater is treated for domestic and industrial purposes individually. The next applicability question is, where is your industrial, domestic, or combined wastewater treated? So this will be different depending on how you answer the previous questions. This relates to the previous question about treating wastewater together. If you answer that you do not combine your wastewater, you will be able to answer how you treat your industrial and domestic wastewater separately. For industrial only, you'll be able to select from the options that you see in the list. So treated on-site only, off-site only, on-site and off-site, ZLD or not treated. And then for domestic, you have treated on-site, off-site, on-site, and off-site septic system, and then a few different options such as gray water is treated on-site, but black water is discharged, sent to an enclosed septic, then discharged off-site ZLD or not treated. Alright. So now let's go over all of the questions in the wastewater section starting with level one. Level one is worth twenty five percent of the total section points generally. Throughout this portion of the session, I will also highlight the top questions marked inaccurate during verification in last year's cadence. These will be marked with a yellow warning icon, and I will also point them out as we go. So the first question is, do you track your industrial or your facility track its wastewater volume? This question is the foundation of the entire wastewater section. The FEM is not asking whether your data is perfect. It is asking whether your facility has visibility into how much wastewater it generates and can explain where that number is coming from. Tracking can be done using meters, utility records, invoices from off-site treatment plants, or reasonable estimates based on water use. What matters most is that the method is clearly defined and applied consistently. A very common issue that we see is facilities reporting wastewater volume, but not explaining how it was calculated. This is especially true for domestic wastewater, which is often assumed rather than estimated. If you are estimating, that is acceptable, but you need to document the assumptions and inputs used. A strong response means that if someone asked you, how did you get this number? You could clearly walk them through the process and show supporting evidence. The next question is, does your facility monitor the BOD five level of your wastewater? BOD five or biochemical oxygen demand is a key indicator of how much organic pollution is present in wastewater. In the FEM, BOD five is also used to calculate wastewater related greenhouse gas emissions, which it why which is why it appears early in the section. At level one, this question is simply asking whether BOD five monitoring occurred during the reporting year. This does not require continuous monitoring or advanced systems. Periodic testing through a certified laboratory is acceptable as long as it aligns with legal requirements or standard practice for your treatment setup. Facilities sometimes assume that if wastewater is treated off-site, this question does not apply. In reality, if BOD5 testing is done by the treatment provider, you should still request and retain those results so that you can accurately answer this question. The next question is, does your facility have a mechanism to prevent storm water from being contaminated before it is discharged into the environment? This question is about prevention, not intention. The FEM is asking whether your facility has physical or procedural controls in place to ensure storm water does not become contaminated by industrial or domestic activities before it leaves the site. Many facilities answer yes because they believe stormwater and wastewater do not mix, but the assessment expects evidence of how that separation is achieved. Examples include drainage maps, physical separation of systems, covered storage areas, good housekeeping practices, and routine inspections. If storm water can become contaminated, for example, near chemical storage, loading areas, or waste zones, there should be a clear mechanism to manage it, such as containment or treatment. A strong response demonstrates that the facility has thought through storm water risks and put controls in place to prevent the environmental impact. The next question is, does your facility maintain a copy of the current contract permit agreement or invoices regarding regulatory compliance requirements for your facility's wastewater discharge to the off-site wastewater treatment plant. So, again, this will come up if you answered in the applicability section that you have off-site treatment. So this is something to remember as I'm going through all of these questions. That's why it's important to really understand the applicability questions because this may not even be applicable to you if you only do on-site treatment, for example. So this question applies to facilities that discharge wastewater to an off-site treatment plant. Even when treatment is outsourced, the facility remains responsible for understanding the regulatory requirements that apply to its wastewater discharge. The FEM is checking whether you maintain documentation such as permits, contracts, agreements, or invoices that define those requirements. A strong response means the facility can easily access these documents and understands key conditions such as discharge limits, testing responsibilities, or fees. A common issue is assuming that because wastewater is treated off-site, no documentation is needed. In reality, retaining these records demonstrates awareness, oversight, and accountability and helps ensure smooth verification if required. The next question is, does your facility have a mechanism or process to monitor whether your wastewater treatment plant is functioning as per the design parameters. For example, volume, flow rate, input, and output quantity. This question focuses on whether the wastewater treatment system is operating as intended, and this is for on-site treatment. Design parameters typically include things like treatment capacity, flow rate, and input and output water quality. The FEM is not asking for advanced engineering analysis. It is asking whether the facility has a defined way to check that the system is functioning properly. Strong practice includes having documented operating procedures, monitoring key parameters, training operators, and performing routine maintenance. Facilities often struggle with this question because they confuse design capacity with actual treated volume or describe treatment activities without linking them back to design expectations. A good response shows that the facility understands how the system should perform and has basic processes in place to monitor and maintain that performance. The next question is, does your facility have a backup plan if there is an emergency related to wastewater? This question is about preparedness. The FEM wants to understand whether your facility has considered what would happen if something goes wrong with wastewater management. For example, equipment failure, overflows, power outages, or extreme weather events. A backup plan does not need to be complex or highly technical, but it should be documented and accessible. A strong practice includes identifying likely emergency scenarios, defining response actions, and assigning clear responsibilities. This can be part of a broader emergency response plan or environmental management system. Facilities sometimes answer yes because they believe emergencies are unlikely, but the FEM is asking whether there is a plan in place before an emergency occurs. Even a simple written procedure that is communicated to staff can support a confident and accurate yes for this question. The next question is, can you please confirm that wastewater generated by the facility is not discharged to the environment through leaking and or bypassing? This question focuses on containment and system integrity. The FEM is asking whether your facility can confirm that wastewater is properly contained and managed without leaks or bypasses that could result in untreated or partially treated wastewater being released to the environment. A strong response is supported by routine inspections, maintenance records, and corrective actions when issues are identified. Facilities sometimes think this question requires proof that leaks have never happened. In reality, it's about demonstrating that the facility actively monitors for leaks and responds appropriately. If an issue has occurred, documenting how it was fixed actually strengthens your response as it shows awareness and control rather than avoidance. The next question is, how many separate and distinct sources of wastewater sludge are managed and disposed of? This question helps establish a complete picture of sludge generation at your facility. Before sludge can be tracked, stored, or disposed of properly, the facility needs to understand how many distinct sources of sludge exist. These sources are typically tied to the different treatment processes or system components. The easiest way to answer this question is by reviewing your wastewater treatment process flow and identifying where sludge is produced. Facilities sometimes undercount by grouping everything together or overlooking minor sources. A strong response clearly identifies each sludge source and ensures that nothing is missed in later sludge related questions. The next question is, does your facility track its industrial wastewater sludge generated in the reporting year? This question asks whether your facility tracks the quantity of industrial wastewater sludge generated during the reporting year. Tracking does not require advanced systems. It can be based on disposal invoices, manifests, or records from third party service providers. A very common challenge is assuming that because sludge is handled by an external contractor, tracking is not required. In the FEM, the facility is still responsible for understanding how much sludge is generated and ensuring that it is managed appropriately. A strong response shows consistent tracking, clear units, and records that cover the entire reporting year. The next question is, does your facility track its domestic wastewater sludge generated in the reporting year? So this is very similar to the last question, but around domestic wastewater sludge. Domestic wastewater sludge is frequently overlooked, which is why this question often causes issues. The FEM is asking whether the facility tracks sludge generated from domestic wastewater treatment, whether that treatment occurs on-site or off-site. If domestic wastewater is treated off-site, tracking may involve requesting quantity information from the service provider or using reasonable estimates. What matters is that the facility has considered domestic sludge and can explain how quantities were determined. A strong response includes clear assumptions, consistent tracking, and documentation that aligns with the facility's wastewater treatment approach. So the next question is, does your facility have well marked designated wastewater sludge storage areas? This question is focused on how sludge is stored before it is transported or disposed of. The FEM is looking for evidence that sludge is handled in a controlled way and that storage areas are clearly designated, marked, and appropriate to prevent spills, leaks, or unsafe exposure. This is not only an environmental issue. It is also a safety and housekeeping issue. A strong practice is having a dedicated area for sludge storage that is clearly labeled and separated from other materials. Ideally, the area has basic controls, such as containment, covered storage if needed, and procedures for proper handling. Facilities sometimes store sludge temporarily in unmarked containers or mixed use areas, which makes it difficult to demonstrate good management. Photos with clear signage plus a simple description of how sludge is stored and who is responsible can strongly support this question. The next question is, and is industrial wastewater sludge disposed of properly? This question asks whether the industrial wastewater sludge is disposed of properly, meaning in accordance with legal requirements and responsible environmental practices. The FEM is checking that the facility understands where sludge goes, who handles it, and whether the disposal method is appropriate and authorized. A strong response typically includes in, using approved or licensed service providers, having contracts or service agreements, and keeping clear records of disposal. Facilities sometimes answer yes because they pay a contractor, but they do not retain evidence of proper disposal or are not sure where the sludge ultimately goes. The key message here is that outsourcing does not remove responsibility. It just shifts how you document it. If you can show that sludge is handled by authorized providers and you have records that support that, you can confidently answer yes to this question. So the next question is, does your facility maintain manifests or similar documentation of the handling, transportation, processing, and disposal of sludge accounting for all wastewater sludge generated at the facility? This question is one of the most important sludge questions because it is about completeness and traceability. It's not just asking whether sludge is disposed of. It's asking whether you maintain documentation that accounts for all industrial sludge generated from handling and transportation through final processing and disposal. Facilities often have some records such as invoices, but it may not have a complete chain that shows the full pathway. A strong practice is being able to show that every sludge pickup, transfer, and disposal is documented and that the documentation covers the full reporting year. If you use third party provide providers, you may need to request manifests or equivalent documentation from them and sort it centrally. If you are missing pieces, start by gathering what you already have, check for gaps, and create a simple checklist so that future documentation is consistent. The next question asks, does your facility provide training to all employees whose work involves wastewater sludge in handling, such as maintenance and custodial staff? This question focuses on people, not paperwork. The FEM is asking whether staff who handle sludge, including maintenance teams, custodial teams, or contractors, are trained on safe and proper handling. Sludge can post environmental risks, health risks, and compliance risks, so training is essential. A strong response includes role specific training content, clear procedures, and documentation that shows who was trained and when. Facilities often struggle with this question not because training isn't happening, but because it isn't documented or because contractors and temporary staff are excluded. The easiest way to improve is to identify all roles that might touch sludge, develop a short training module, and keep simple attendance records. Training doesn't need to be long. It just needs to be relevant, consistent, and recorded. The next question is, is domestic wastewater sludge disposed of properly? This question mirrors the industrial sludge disposal question, but it applies to domestic wastewater sludge. Domestic sludge is often managed through municipal systems or third party service providers, with which can make it easy for facilities to assume they don't need to track it. But the FEM is asking whether domestic sludge is disposed of properly and whether the facility can show evidence of responsible handling. A strong response includes disposal or service records, contracts or invoices, or other documents that show who collects the sludge and where it is taken. If domestic sludge is managed off-site, you can request documentation from the service provider. If domestic sludge is managed on-site, ensure that you have disposal records and any relevant permits. The main point is that domestic sludge still counts, and it needs the same level of responsible oversight as industrial sludge. The next question is, does your facility manage the residue of the septic system? This question applies to facilities that use a septic system as part of their wastewater management. So what you answered in the applicability section. Septic residue, often referred to as septic sludge or septic waste, must be handled properly because it can pose significant health and environmental risks if not managed correctly. The FEM is checking whether the facility has a process to manage this residue safely and responsibly. A strong response includes evidence that the septic system is maintained at appropriate intervals, that pumping and cleaning is done by authorized service providers, and that the residue is disposed of through approved channels. Facilities sometimes struggle with this question because septic management is handled by another department or a third party and records aren't retained. If you are unsure, start by confirming whether septic systems are in use, identify who services them, and collect the most recent maintenance or pumping invoices. Even simple records can support a confident answer and help ensure the facility is reducing environmental risks. The next question is, have you tested your wastewater against the legal requirements that apply to your facility? This is one of the most important compliance questions in this section, and it is also one of the most commonly missed. The FEM is not asking whether you test wastewater in general. It is asking whether your testing is aligned with the legal requirements that apply to your facility. That means the correct parameters, the correct testing frequency, and testing results compared against the legal or permit limits. Facilities often have some testing data, but it may not match what is required legally or the legal limits are not documented. A strong practice is knowing what legal requirements apply, retaining the permit or regulatory standard, and having lab test reports that clearly show compliance. If you cannot answer yes today, start by identifying the applicable regulation or permit, then compare the required parameters to what you have tested. If there are gaps, schedule compliant testing and document the results. This question is a great example where accuracy and documentation go hand in hand. The next question is, are you reporting against any wastewater standard in addition to the legal requirement? So this question is about voluntary reporting beyond legal Many facilities are asked by customers, programs, or participate in industry initiatives to report against a wastewater standard, such as a brand specific requirement or an industry guideline. The FEM is checking whether your facility reports against any additional standard beyond what is legally required. Is it it is important to note that answering no is completely acceptable here. You should only answer yes if you can clearly identify the standard and demonstrate that you are reporting against it. A strong response includes a clear reference to the standard used and evidence of the reporting in line with the standard scope and format. If you are not sure, start by checking whether any customers or programs require any additional wastewater standards, and then assess whether your facility currently tracks the data needed to meet those standards. Now let's go over level two. If you achieve level one, you will automatically move to level two and three. Or if you did not achieve level one, you may optionally answer questions in level two or three if you would like to for your own tracking or if requested by a business partner that you share data with. Please note that if you voluntarily answer additional questions in level two and three without achieving level one, these questions will not contribute to your self assessed score. Now let us review the questions in level two. Level two is worth fifty percent of those total section points. The next the first question in level two is a continuation of the level one standard reporting question. Here, the FEM is asking for more structure in how reporting is documented. The format of this question is a table where you input more information about the standards you selected in the level one question that we just discussed. A strong response includes a completed reporting table, dashboard, or formal submission that aligns with the standard. The key improvement at level two is transparency, showing how the facility's wastewater data connects to the standard's parameters and expectations. If you cannot answer yes, start by selecting the standard you intend to report against and create a simple table that lists the required parameters, your test results, and whether they meet limits. This is often a practical way to improve reporting quality even before formal audits or external reporting begin. The next question is, are you in compliance or conformance with the reported wastewater standard? So, again, this is a continuation on the previous questions. This question asks whether your facility actually meets the wastewater standard you reported against. In other words, it is not enough to report. Level two is checking whether performance is aligned with the standards limits and requirements. Compliance or conformance can be demonstrated through test results, internal reviews, or third party assessments depending on the on the standard. A strong response shows that the facility understands what compliance means for that standard and can clearly identify whether it is meeting all requirements or where gaps exist. Importantly, it is okay if you're not fully compliant. What matters is that you understand your status and have a plan to address any gaps. If you cannot answer yes, start by reviewing the standard requirements alongside your wastewater performance data, documenting non-conformances, and outlining corrective actions. This question is about maturity, knowing where you stand and being able to demonstrate progress. The next question is, if you reported against ZDHC wastewater guidelines, did your facility test your wastewater and meet foundational level conventional parameters and anions in their reporting year? This question applies only if your facility reported against the ZDHC wastewater guidelines. If you did not, you can answer not applicable or no based on how the assessment is structured. The FEM is checking whether you you tested wastewater during the reporting year and met the ZDHC foundational limits for conventional parameters and anions. Conventional parameters typically include things like pH, COD, and other common indicators of wastewater quality. And anions are a specific group of substances that are part of the ZDHC framework. A strong response means you have lab test results from the reporting year, and the results clearly cover the required parameters, and you have compared those results against the ZDHC foundational limits. A common issue is having testing data, but it doesn't match the ZDHC parameter list or doesn't fall within the reporting year. If you cannot answer yes, start by confirming whether ZDHC reporting applies to your facility, then reviewing the foundational parameter list and checking whether your existing test reports cover everything required. So this is another ZDHC specific question, and it focuses specifically on heavy metals. Even if you have wastewater testing data, heavy metals are often tested separately or less frequently than conventional parameters, which is why facilities can struggle with this question. The FEM is asking whether your facility tested for heavy metals in the reporting year and whether the results met the ZDHC foundational limits. A strong response includes lab reports showing heavy metals were tested, evidence that the sampling and testing occurred within the reporting year, and confirmation that the results are within foundational limits. If you cannot answer yes, start by reviewing the ZDHC heavy metal requirements and checking whether your testing program currently includes them. If testing is missing, you may need to schedule compliant testing and ensure reports clearly show the results for each required metal parameter. And I'm sharing a couple resources related to testing and ZDHC guidelines. So there's a sampling and analysis document that I just shared. And this is also just in the resources section generally that you can access, and then also the ZDHC sludge reference document. And these will also be sent in a follow-up email. The next question is if you reported against the ZDHC guidelines, did your facility test your wastewater and meet MRSL parameter requirements in the reporting year? This question focuses on MRSL parameters under the ZDHC wastewater guidelines. MRSL stands for manufacturing restricted substances list, and these parameters relate to chemicals that should not be present in wastewater above certain limits. This is often one of the more technical ZDHC questions because MRSL testing can involve more advanced analysis and may be done less frequently. A strong response means your facility has MRSL related test results from the reporting year. The parameters tested match the ZDHC MRSL requirements and results meet the limits. Facilities sometimes answer yes because they participate in ZDHC reporting, but they don't confirm whether MRSL parameters were actually tested or whether the test scope aligns with ZDHC expectations. If you cannot answer yes, start by reviewing what MRSL parameters are required, checking your lab scope, and confirming whether your reporting year testing included MRSL parameters specifically. The next question is, if you reported against the ZDHC guidelines, did your facility test your wastewater and meet foundational limits for microfiber parameters? For example, total suspended solids or TSS in the reporting year. This question is still within the ZDHC framework, but it focuses on microfiber related parameters. And in the FEM, total suspended solids or TSS is highlighted as the key parameter connected to microfiber pollution. The question asks whether your facility tested and met ZDHC foundational limits for these parameters during the reporting year. A strong response includes test results for TSS within the reporting year and evidence that those results meet the foundational limits. Again, sometimes facilities assume that because they test for TSS compliance for compliance purposes, it automatically meets ZDHC requirements. In reality, ZDHC has specific limits and expectations, though so the results should be compared directly. If you cannot answer yes, start by confirming whether ZDHC reporting applies, checking whether TSS is already included in your testing program, and ensure that you can demonstrate compliance with the foundational limits. And, again, you won't be asked other questions regarding the ZDHC framework if you didn't say that you follow it. So just keep that in mind. If you're like, I only follow my customer's wastewater guidelines, you wouldn't be asked these additional questions. The next question is, does your facility track wastewater sludge by each source, which includes all sludge generated on-site and its disposition in your sludge inventory? This question is a higher level sludge management question that builds on the earlier sludge tracking questions. It's asking whether your facility tracks sludge by each source and includes all sludge generated on-site in a sludge inventory, including where it goes and how it's disposed of. The main concept is completeness and traceability, not just total quantity. A strong response means that you can point to a sludge inventory that lists each sludge source, tracks quantities by source, and includes disposition information such as storage, transport, and final disposal method. This is important because different sludge sources can have different characteristics and disposal requirements. If you cannot answer yes, start by listing all sludge sources from your wastewater treatment processes and creating a simple inventory table with three columns, source, quantity generated, and disposal pathway. This is an easy step that helps you strengthen multiple sludge related questions at the same time. The next question is, does your facility maintain manifests or similar documentation of the handling, transportation, processing, and disposal of sludge accounting for all domestic wastewater sludge generated at the facility? This question is similar to the earlier industrial sludge manifest question, but focuses specifically on domestic wastewater sludge. The FEM is checking whether you maintain documentation that accounts for all domestic sludge generated, including how it is handled, transported, processed, and disposed of. Even though domestic sludge often feels less complex than industrial sludge, it still needs the same level of responsible oversight and documentation. A strong response means that you could show manifests, invoices, service records, or other documentation from the reporting year that covers all domestic sludge. A common challenge is that domestic sludge is managed by a municipality or external provider, and the facility doesn't retain, the original records. If you cannot answer yes today, start by requesting documentation from your service providers, collecting any invoices or pickup records that you may already have, and organize them in a central location. The goal is that you can account for the sludge pathway from generation to disposal even if you don't manage it directly. The next question is, do you have a plan to upgrade your septic tank to a more modern wastewater treatment approach? So this question is an improvement focused question for facilities that rely on septic tanks. Septic tanks are common in areas without centralized wastewater infrastructure, but they can be less effective for environmental protection compared to modern treatment approaches. The FEM is asking whether your facility has a plan to upgrade from septic tanks to a more modern wastewater treatment. A strong response does not require that the upgrade is already complete. It just requires that you have a documented plan. This could be a feasibility study, an engineering proposal, a capital planning road map, or a phased upgrade plan with approximate timing. If you cannot answer yes, start by evaluating your current septic system performance and limitations, exploring available options, such as connection to municipal treatment or installing an on-site treatment system, and documenting a high level plan. Even early planning demonstrates progress and supports long term improvement. The next question is, have you requested wastewater quality test results from the off-site wastewater treatment plant? This question applies to when your wastewater is treated off-site. The FEM is checking whether you request and retain wastewater quality test results from the off-site treatment plant. The key idea is visibility. Even if your facility does not operate the treatment plant, you should still understand how your waste is performing and whether it is being treated appropriately. A strong response includes documented test results provided by the treatment plant and, ideally, evidence that your facility has requested them. Facilities sometimes assume the treatment plant is responsible for everything and do not ask for results. But requesting results helps you understand compliance, identify risks, and respond proactively if issues arise. If you cannot answer yes, start by contacting the off-site treatment provider. Request the most recent test reports, and clarifying how often data can be shared. Keeping these records supports accurate responses across multiple questions. So that was all of the level two questions. So now let's move on to level three. Level three is worth twenty five percent of your total section points, and I know we're almost at time. But luckily, level three is pretty short. So now we're entering level three, which highlights leading and aspirational practices. This question is about collaboration beyond compliance. The FEM is asking whether your facility actively engages with your off-site wastewater treatment plant to improve treatment performance or explore recycling opportunities. This can take many forms. It does not require a major program. Strong practice might include regular meetings, joint review of wastewater quality results, participation in improvement projects, or discussions about wastewater reuse and recycling. The key is that engagement is intentional and documented. If you cannot answer a yes, start by initiating doc dialogue with your treatment provider. Ask about performance trends, improvement opportunities, and whether recycling or reuse is technically possible. Even a small step like a quarterly check-in creates momentum and strengthens your wastewater management over time. The next question is, does your facility reuse process wastewater as processed water? This question asks whether your facility reuses process weight of wastewater internally as processed water. Reuse means using wastewater again without necessarily fully, quote, unquote, recycling it through advanced treatment. It may be used for applications that do not require the same quality as freshwater. The intent is to reduce freshwater demand and reduce wastewater discharge. A strong response means that you have a defined reuse loop. The reused water is appropriate for its intended use, and controls are in place to maintain quality and safely safety. Facilities should be able to describe which wastewater streams are reused, where they are reused, and how volumes are tracked. If you cannot answer yes, start by identifying processes that may not require fresh water, such as rinsing, cooling, or noncritical cleaning. Then assess basic treatment or filtration needs and consider a pilot reuse project. Even small reuse initiatives can have meaningful water water savings. This question builds on reuse, but focuses on recycling industrial wastewater, meaning wastewater is treated to a quality that allows it to be used again in production processes. Recycling is often more advanced than reuse, and it may require additional treatment steps such as filtration, chemical treatment, or reverse osmosis depending on the intended use. A strong response includes evidence of the recycling system design, monitoring records showing water quality, and tracking of recycled volumes. The facility should be able to explain how recycled water in is managed safely how it contributes to reduced freshwater intake. If you cannot answer yes, start by identifying which industrial wastewater streams might be suitable for recycling and what treatment would be needed. You can also begin by collecting baseline water quality and volume data so that future recycling feasibility is easier to evaluate. This question is another level three leading practice focused on domestic wastewater recycling. Domestic wastewater can be treated and recycled for uses such as toilet flushing, landscape irrigation, or other non potable applications. The intent is to reduce potable water consumption and promote circular water use. A strong response means there's a defined system for collecting, treating, and reusing domestic wastewater and that the facility monitors water quality to ensure wastewater is safe for the intended use. Facilities should also be aware of any regulatory requirements for reuse as these vary by location. If you cannot answer yes, start by identifying potential domestic reuse applications, assessing whether domestic wastewater volume and quality are suitable, and reviewing local regulatory conditions. A feasibility assessment and pilot plan are often the best first step towards long term implementation. Alright. So that is all of the questions. Let me actually pop out of here, and I just wanna show a little bit of a demonstration. So let me pull this window over. Hopefully, you can see this on my screen. So I'm just gonna do a little bit of demo before we get into q and a. No worries to anybody who has to hop off at the top of the hour. I will be sending the full recording along to everybody that registered along with the q and a report. So first off, just wanna show how you navigate to your FEM. So first, in the upper right hand corner, this is where you can select which account you want to be logged into. If you have not yet purchased your subscription, you can do so here. To get into your FEM, you'll just either click here on the twenty twenty five FEM if you've already opened it. Or if you haven't opened it yet and you have a previous twenty twenty four, you can open it from there as well. Once you open the assessment or if it takes you it may take you to this overview page just depending on where you click it click to it from, I should say, then you can start to fill out your questions. So in the wastewater section, this is where we'll start. I just wanna highlight a couple things. So these first couple questions here are those applicability questions that I mentioned before. If you've previously filled out an FEM from last year, for example, it will show you your response from last year to give you that context so that it's helpful to answer. Obviously, it doesn't autofill all of those questions because things might change, but you do have that as a reference. For any of the questions that have additional guidance, you can click on view guidance here. And there is also our Worldly Assistant. You can access the Worldly Assistant through these icons here or at any time in this side panel on the right hand side. So I'm not gonna go through every single question. Let's go ahead and go to the Q and A. So the first question is, can we import data into FDM by system to system automatically, or is there any way to mass import data into FDM? For example, prepare an Excel file with a required data and format and then import into FDM. So this is related to our more monthly data capture tool called the facility data manager for anybody who's not familiar. So, Johnson, not at this time. We have gotten that request before, though. So I will add kind of your upvote to that feature request to be able to import that so that you can pull that data over. But at this time, it would just be, you know, entering it into the system. You can enter back data, though. So you're not restricted to, you know, only enter data moving forward or if a specific time period. So thank you for that request. I'll definitely pass that along to our product team. They do take your feedback seriously, so I'll definitely follow-up. So thank you. Alright. The next question is, I would like to ask if the facility generated the wastewater sludge in the reporting year, but they did not dispose of it by qualified service provider. How can we report the wastewater sludge data? So if you generated the wastewater sludge in the reporting year, but it has not yet been disposed of and it is still being stored, you would just do not include that value in the disposed of questions. So there's a few different questions around sledge, how much was generated, how is it disposed of, what was the quantity disposed. So just depending on that, how you answer some of these questions, you'll be able to answer that differently. So generated and disposed is slightly different. And then if it wasn't disposed of by a qualified service provider, but it was disposed of, generally, there's also some options for, like, it was disposed, not treated, those sorts of things. So, hopefully, that helps, fam. But I think once you get into the questions in here and start answering the questions, it will help you understand, you know, which which ways that you'll be answering questions and what kind of documentation you might need. Also, always shout out to the HowtoHigg website. So if you're on HowtoHigg, you can get to the FEM data from here. Go to Higg FEM. There's the question by question guidance, or there's the resources that I shared earlier. But the question by question guidance has been updated for this reporting year. And then you can go into wastewater, and it has kind of the overview information. But then you can see each question just as they're listed and all of the resources related to that specific question. So the next question is, if a facility tracks its wastewater regularly by on-site meter but uploads it the tracking in a monthly basis, then what will be the answer of the below question? What was the frequency of measurement? Will it be daily or monthly? So depending on which question here's, like, an example. So there's a couple different ways that it's asked. It's like which method was used. So if you're discussing your wastewater, let's say that it's the industrial wastewater, and you're tracking it by meter, you would say meter. And then what was the frequency of measurement? If you have that, metering would kind of be continuous. So you have that option of, like, continuous measurement, and then you can just upload the actual files here. So how you know, as you continue to answer questions in this section, you'll fill out this table. So, hopefully, that helps answer that question. Alright. So the next question is, do the qualified third parties who handle sludge also need training from the facility? So if you do have, third parties, this is more about, like, what occurs on your facility location. So let me find the training question here. That's not the same question. So there's questions about, like, the backup plan, but I think that's not the question that you're discussing. So generally speaking, if the contractors are operating on-site, so if you have people picking up of things, the training that might be relevant to their specific job, you know, they should be trained by their particular organization. Could be as simple as being like, hey. Can you just send me how you do your training or, like, a simple overview of your training schedule just so that we can see? Or, you know, maybe they all have a certain qualification, and you can just get, like, a copy of that. But if you have folks handling sludge on-site, then it might just be a simple training of this is where our sludge is located. These are our best practices that we teach everybody. Doesn't have to be super in-depth. But yeah. But you don't need to be giving training. Just to be clear, you'd Flora, you don't need to be giving training to a wastewater treatment facility that's not operated on-site. So it's just if you have, like, contractors and people, you know, coming on-site and doing things there that you will want to include them in the training, including any temporary folks, maintenance staff, janitors, that sort of thing, if they come into contact with sludge or have the potential to. Alright. The next question is there's a question. Is domestic wastewater sludge disposed of properly? But I have a domestic wastewater treatment plant, and the sludge goes into the sludge digester and then back into the aerobic system. So we never dispose of our sludge waste. How do we answer that question? So that's a great question. So when it asks is domestic, I I answered so many questions in this one. So it's just let me find it in just a moment. Domestic. So there is some additional questions about, like, such sources. Let me get to the first part. This is just about usage. So you would probably say for, like, your domestic wastewater, we'll say domestic is on-site. So as you can see, when you answer these questions differently, then different questions will open up below. So here, now it's, like, asking if I track it, how is it used to track, etcetera, etcetera. Sorry. I just need to get to the section that asks that follow-up question. But, basically, if you say, oh, it's captured on-site, then it will ask questions related to being on-site. For example, if you have a zero liquid discharge facility, not saying that you do, but if you do, then the wastewater amount is, like, how much was processed through that versus how much was let me see if I can find that specific question. Versus how much was, like, discharged since you didn't technically discharge anything. Sorry. It's just, scrolling a lot to find the right section to do track. There we go. So if I say yes sorry. That took so long. You have how much wastewater sludge did you generate. And then if you have storage areas, so on and so forth. So in this case, it's saying, hey. Did you generate? But it's not actually asking that follow-up question about how you disposed of it necessarily since you have the on-site treatment. So as you continue, though, it will ask different questions. Like, if you're, you know, treating things together, you might have a different set of questions versus separately versus on-site versus off-site, so on and so forth. So hopefully that helps. And then you also have questions about, like, disposal pathways for both industrial and domestic. And so you'll just answer yes or no. And these are just, like, additional questions related to that, not, like, something that you're, like, scored against in that way. Right? So, hopefully, that makes sense, but let me know if you have other questions. Alright. The next question is, do you monitor all identified wastewater discharge points? What does monitor mean? Is it testing or tracking or anything else? So that might be including all wastewater discharge points in your plans, of your building plans, of your plumbing plans, things like that, making sure that they are known of and exist in some way in, like, your general consciousness, so to speak. It might also be testing. So if you have, you know, certain industrial wastewater things that are being discharged directly to the environment, that's going to have a different level of testing than perhaps if you have your wastewater treated off-site. So it's just about, do you know where all of these points exist? Are you currently monitoring them? Your monitoring may be different depending on how your wastewater is being treated, but you should know where all your discharge points exist. Because if you don't know where all those discharge points exist, then you don't really know, you know, what risks you have and where leaks are more likely to occur. So hopefully, helps. The next question is which ZDHC wastewater test report will the verifier check? Current report on verification timeline or the reports of the reporting year? That's a great question. So that's more around verification generally and the timing parameters. So let me check or or let me share this. Let me hide this meeting control. I'm sharing this page in the chat. So each question has a different kind of timeline and reporting parameters. I highly recommend checking out the protocol. There's also different parameters such as, like, the verifier field guide that has information on how they're assessing timelines. Let me just show where that lives. I think that's in this one. Yeah. The time ordinance. So this is here. Each question has a different time ordinance related to it. So it's in the link that I shared. I would recommend checking those out. That will give you a better understanding of, you know, are folks going to ask for this or, you know, the current snapshot or what have you. And then I think this also has an image right here. So under each question, it says reporting and current. So this will tell you if it's reporting year, which would be the twenty twenty five calendar year and currently existing. Or in some cases, I'm not seeing one right now, like, jumping out at me. Some might just say reporting, some might just say current. So you can see that for every question just below kind of the question information. You can also see what level it is, if it's included in verification, that sort of thing, as well as the question number. The next question is ZDHC wastewater guidelines only apply to industrial wastewater. Right? Or does it also apply to domestic wastewater? And I think we lost our interpreter, so I'm sorry for anybody who's relying on that. Just know I'll be sending the Q and A report to everybody as well, so don't worry about that. And the recording will also have translated subtitles. So this question, the ZDHC wastewater guidelines only apply to industrial wastewater. Yes. I believe so. I don't believe it applies to domestic wastewater, but, yeah, I believe that's true. But you can always check that out on the questions in, like, the the guidance here. We could also ask that, actually. I will show you really quickly how the assistant works. Oops. So you just click that. You can ask your question to the assistant in any language, and then it'll reply to you in that language. And so yeah. So here says domestic wastewater only if they're only doing that and you're treating it and without mixing it. So it depends on if you blend is really the long and short of it. But, hopefully, this kinda gives you an idea of how the assistant works, and you can ask it questions. And it's trained on all of the different resources that it'll link you to. So yeah. And you can ask a question in Chinese or you can ask a question in Vietnamese, and it will respond to you in kind as well. Alright. The next question is, what is your facility's wastewater treatment plant maximum holding capacity if the treatment plant is shut down in an emergency? In meters cubic meters. If a facility does not have any extra holding tank for emergency cases, then this answer will be zero in cubic meters. Yeah. So if you don't have an emergency tank, you would put in zero, and then the recommendation would be probably to get some sort of holding tank, especially if you have wastewater treatment plant on-site. The next question is we have ZDHC wastewater testing, but we need do not need to do conventional parameters testing according to the ZDHC guideline. There are no options that are not applicable in level two question twenty one. So let me go there. That may be a bug in the system. Let me get to that question. So there is supposed to be a not applicable, it looks like. So let me submit a ticket. I'm gonna submit a bug ticket on that, but if you don't mind also submitting a ticket to support just so that then I can tie it to your issue, that would be really helpful for our team to take a look at. So it looks like there should be a non-applicable option for that question, but it's not available in the drop down. If you ever also just for everybody's knowledge, if you ever see that where you're like, okay. These options say, you know, a b c, but this says a b d, and d is not available. It should be reflected in whatever the guidance is saying, so definitely reach out to us to let us know. But I'll make a note of that and file a bug ticket for that issue. But please submit also a support ticket just so we can follow-up with you directly. The next question is, if the facility treated domestic wastewater by septic tank and they did not upload the residue sludge septic in twenty twenty five because the sludge is not generated much, how can they report the question? Does your facility obtain shipment manifests and records for offloading septic waste? I would say if you generally obtain that, then you should have some sort of that evidence, and then you would just put in, like, the notes. We did not have enough residue to off, you know, offload in this reporting year. But you can say, you know, we generally do have our manifest and everything like that as supporting evidence. So that's where that, like let me see if I can find this question specifically. Because usually, it will have a here we go. So if I say yes, it asks a couple other questions, and then it usually has, like, documentation. So you can upload past documentation. And then if you are, you know, going through verification, you can just, like, explain to the verifier, hey. Like, we just didn't have any and, you know, put in zero for, like, the sludge amount there. So hopefully, that helps. But let me know if you have any other questions. Alright. The next question is if a facility unloads or cleans the septic tank sludge for five times in a year, then which option should we choose for the question? How frequently does your facility unload your septic tanks? Let's see if I can find that. I'm not sure if I answered having septic. There we go. If it's five times a year, I mean, it's quarterly is gonna be your closest. I would just say quarterly. Folks aren't gonna question that. It's not like you're getting dinged if you do it more often or, you know, whatever. So I would just say quarterly, and then you can upload all your evidence. So that's totally fine. If things don't fit, like, exactly, but it's, like, pretty close enough, it's just trying to kind of document that information. And then if you do go through verification, you can upload that and be like, you know, we have another one, but here's the documentation. The next question is, if we use water for boiler, is the wastewater considered as industrial? If we have a simple treatment plant for boiler wastewater, is this considered that we have an industrial wastewater treatment plant? Sorry. I'm still confused of the boiler scope in this area. Yeah. So let's take a look at the guidance really quick. Highly recommend checking out just, like, each section as you're getting to it. And I'm sharing the direct section link here in the chat. So industrial does include things like this. So if it's, like, contact cooling water, etcetera, If it's blowdown water from boilers or compressors, that would go into domestic wastewater. So from what you're describing, it sounds like that would fall under domestic. If you have a simple treatment plant for domestic wastewater, that's going to be different, and you can select that. So all of these different options that you see, like on-site wastewater, etcetera, when you indicate, okay. I have domestic and I have industrial, you have the option to answer them separately. So you can say for my domestic, we have this, like, little on-site thing, yada yada. And then for industrial, we have off-site. But remember that your domestic also will include other things like your toilets that you have on-site and, like, sinks like that. So depending on how that is arranged is how you'll answer those questions. And always, always, always, you know, if you have additional documentation, I always say I recommend providing more documentation than less. So, hopefully, that helps. The next question is a cut to pack facility. Has a mini boiler only only used for cloth pressing or ironing. Does it fall under production wastewater? I remember seeing this question or seeing this come up before. I might have to follow-up on that one. I I don't know off the top of my head, and and I don't wanna lead you astray. So I will find out more information on that and get back to you, and it will be included in the q and a report because I can't remember if that was specific to something about energy or wastewater. But I'll find out, and I'll get back to you. So I know you submitted this as an anonymous question, but as long as you submitted the or registered with your email, you should get the follow-up email. The next question is, will the training topics be shared with us? So, yes, absolutely. I'll be sharing all of these different training resources and things like that as well as upcoming trainings that are coming up. If you're talking about specific training topics that are required in the section, that's a little different, and that would definitely be available in the guidance and the HowtoHigg guidance. So just depending on which which question that was specifically around or if it was just about this particular training. But I will be sharing all the training resources for this session. The next question is besides direct testing, what other methods are available to record training results or effects? I would say so direct testing is gonna be probably the easiest way to document that. So a quick quiz, something like that. You know, maybe record a verbal training with your phone. Right? Like, you it doesn't have to be super fancy. Just think of of you know, if you had to verify another facility that was not your own, how would you go about ensuring that something actually happened? So if you, you know, just record that your training happened and show that there was, like, a verbal quiz or something like that, great. If you have e-learning that you're having people go through, awesome. If you are sending people to in person trainings, great. So just however you can document it would be my recommendation. The worst thing that you can do is just say, yeah. We do it, but have nothing to really back that up. Right? So that's what I would say. And then as far as, like, measuring the effectiveness of training, as far as wastewater, you know, have you had spills? Have you had, you know, sludge incidents, that sort of thing? Or has everything been pretty smooth because people are following the standard operating procedures? So, hopefully, that helps, but let me know if you have any follow ups on that. The next question is how does your facility monitor the bod five level of your wastewater? If there are multiple test reports or results for BOD, then what will the value what is the value that the facility input into that question? So what is your BOD five level prior and after treatment? I mean, only the last test report value or sum of all the rest individually. Okay. So if we go to that question, it has a lot of technical guidance here. So if you say, yes. I have monitored the BOB five level, then it asks how do they monitor it? So is it before treatment, after treatment, or before and after treatment? So if you're this is saying if you measure the levels before it goes through any wastewater treatment or after wastewater treatment or both. So if you have on-site, then, you know, you have the opportunity to test it before and after. That you might do that to make sure that your wastewater treatment is effective. So you'll answer these questions here first, and then you'll answer some additional questions related to what that testing includes. But yeah. So that's kind of what that means is are you checking it before you treat it, after your treatment, both, or at all stages? And then, yeah, once you answer that question, then you'll have the option to answer these questions. So if you said it's before and after, there's these questions. And then if you're saying in all processes and soft subprocesses, then there's these additional questions. So there's a ton more of kind of technical information in this section. I do wanna note that this question is not scored in the twenty twenty five year, so scoring may apply in future years. But definitely check out all of this detail because there's going to be a lot more than I can get into now. The next question is if gray water and black water are transported by a third party, how should the calculation be done accurately? Is it sufficient to use invoices only? Yeah. So if you are able to capture those things with invoices, that is an option. So generally speaking, for most of the wastewater types or, like, you know, how much are you recycling or how much is being transported, etcetera, you'll have these three different options, and invoices is an option. So, know, if I said for domestic, I'm just tracking it with invoices. You can do that. And then let's say it's not that. It's going to off-site. And then you can add any notes like, oh, here's the name of it or whatever, and then upload your documentation. Alright. And then the next question is, does a chemical formulator need to follow the ZDHC wastewater guidelines? That's a good question. The FEM isn't kind of forcing you to follow those guidelines, if that makes sense. So it's not something that's like, oh, in order to do well on your FEM, you must follow these ZDHC guidelines. There are other options such as blue sign. Let me see if I can find the question that asks about different industrial or, like, industry compliance things because that's in level two. So yeah. So there's just a few different questions related to it, but that doesn't mean that it's because I answered that I was following that. But, for example, if you were following, you know, wastewater standard provided by your customer or brand or something of that nature or BSR or Blue Sign water wastewater standard, etcetera. You can choose those, or there's another other option. You have these other options. And then, you know, whatever you do select, though, you'll have to indicate your supporting documentation. So see how, like, whatever I selected shows up here, and then, you know, I have this option. And let's say it's like, okay. Are you in conformance? And then are your parameter results available on some sort of platform or some sort of access? And then, you know, you can go link or whatever you want, etcetera. And I'm not sure why you can't upload that there. I think if you say no, then you have the option to upload. So it just kinda depends. Like, for example, ZDHC, you could be on the ZDHC gateway, and then you could link to it. BlueSign might have a website as well. But yeah. So it's not that, like, ZDHC compliance is a requirement. It's just if you are, then there's some additional questions around it. But then if you aren't, you would just answer that according to whatever industry standards that you're following in addition to any legal requirements for that specific question anyway. I see a question about when can we receive the training material. I'll be sending that after this along with the recording. I'm gonna get an answer to that one question I couldn't answer before before sending it. So just be on the lookout, but it'll be this week for sure. And the last question is follow-up because verifier is asking for this for these documents to our chemical formulators. Yeah. So, yeah, if that's the case, if your chemical formulators are also going through FEM, then they would answer this according to whatever they're following. So, yeah, hopefully, that helps. I've I feel like I'm not quite answering your question, but hopefully, I did. Anyhoo, we are way over time. I really appreciate you guys' time. I hope this is helpful for everybody. After I close this webinar, I'll be sending all of those resources to everybody that I mentioned before along with the slides so that you have it available as a resource. To anybody who has their hand raised, do let me know if you kind of had a longer question that you wanna chat about. But if not, I will be sending that follow-up email soon. Sorry. You couldn't see my face today. I was kind of feeling under the weather, but I'll see you in the next one. And, yeah, have a great rest of your day, and you'll see an email from me in a day or two. Alright. Thank you all so much. Have a good one.