Rainwater Offset Unit (RoU) PROGRAM

The Universal Water Registry (UWR) Standard and Platform aims to introduce better waternomics with the next-generation model of mining voluntary rain water offsets/credits from a wide range of green projects that is far more efficient, faster, cheaper, de-centralized in transfer and convenient for every small green project involved in rainwater or unutilized water capture and/or groundwater recharge.

The objective of the voluntary water offset program is supported by the UWR Rainwater Standard that aims to drive water harvesting, recharge and conservation efforts, which we define as: the actions taken for capturing/recycling/reusing unutilized sources of water that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through site and catchment based actions independent of water quality parameters.

In a new and path breaking initiative, UWR has designed the RoU eligibility criteria to reward sustainable groundwater and water conservation development, with rules that are standardized and facilitates ESG/Net Zero finance/capital flows in the traditional as well as emerging smart contract conversion (RoU Token) tokenomics post issuance of the water credits or offsets on the UWR platform.

In general, UWR requires that projects are real, verifiable and must be currently operational. UWR Rules allow projects from domestic and developing nations. All UWR water conservation and recharge activities have prescriptive eligibility, evaluation and verification requirements as set out in our approved positive project list protocol requirements outlined in the UWR Rainwater Offset Standard.

Our UWR Standard allows for early action projects and the ability to monetize rainwater credits from the vintage year 2014 onwards. In keeping with the current UWR guidelines, entry into the UWR system is seamless and on par for small and large scale project owners. The UWR registry does not approve or reject any peer-to peer trades, nor charge holders of water credits any fees for opening or maintaining accounts or green project registration (third party auditing/verification fees are excluded). Our simplified and decentralized fee structure is linked to the water offsets or credits mined successfully by each owner (our fees are 5% {five percent} of the total water offsets or credits mined, auto deducted- involving no cash exchange in the process, thereby increasing the speed of issuance or release of water offsets or credits to account holders).

Our approach to mining water credits from projects addresses the “Do No Harm or Negative Impact” sustainability test. None of the projects being mined on the UWR platform have any negative development impacts i.e. community or environment. We support projects that add environmental, social, and governance standards (ESG) as a key basis for eligibility on the UWR platform, while accepting quality green water projects from a predefined list of activities. All our water conservation and groundwater recharge projects, either by individuals or collective actions, benefit people, the economy and nature. While this program and standard is aimed at all unutilized water conservation and recharge efforts (with or without treatment) worldwide, its genesis lies in India and hence, the protocol keeps projects established within India in mind as the basis of development and standardisation of water offset or credits.