Did you know that the elaboration of any cotton shirt that Compres needs 2,700 liters of water for its production? This is because cotton cultivation is the largest water consumer within the supplies chain of the fashion world. But how is it possible to calculate this data and know these results? Thanks to the indicator of the water footprint. The concept of “water footprint” was included in 2002 as a different indicator and as an alternative of greater complexity than the concept of “use of water.” Since then, organizations such as UNESCO and Water Footprint Network, have studied various examples of water footprint with the aim of promoting efficient, fair and sustainable use of water. Last advances in knowledge, information and ideas to combat water shortage. As a strategy to combat situations of water shortage worldwide, numerous organizations cooperate to develop and disseminate the knowledge and importance of water footprint.
Continue reading this Ecology Verde article to inform you about What is the water footprint, its types, examples and how to calculate it.
What is the water footprint – simple definition
The water footprint is the term used to indicate the direct or indirect use that human beings make of water Sweet on the planet. It is an indicator widely used in environmental and sustainability studies to measure the total volume of fresh water that is used in the production of the goods and services of a company, or simply, of the volume of water consumed directly by an individual or a community.
To do this, the Water footprint indicator Calculate the use of water through the volume of water that has been consumed, evaporated or even contaminated (taking into account whether the calculation is carried out per unit of time for the index of individuals and communities, or for good per unit of mass in the case of companies).
Water footprint types
Within the different Water footprint types We can differentiate between:
- Water footprint of direct consumption of water: It is one that calculates the water used and/or contaminated during the entire manufacturing process of a product, as well as the water that is incorporated into the product itself as an ingredient.
- Water footprint of indirect water consumption: It refers to all the water needed to produce the different raw materials used in any production and supply process.
On the other hand, the water footprint is expressed on numerous occasions as colors, so that, depending on the type of water considered, we find:
- Green Water Footprint: It refers to the volume of water that is evaporated from the water resources of the planet and rainwater that is stored in the soil as moisture.
- Blue Water Footprint: that related to the volume of fresh water consumed from the water resources of the surface and underground waters of the planet.
- Gray water footprint: Study water quality and possible pollution due to waste and toxic substance discharges, as well as the volume of contaminated water associated with the production of goods and services, taking into account the amount of water that will be necessary to add to the volume of water already contaminated, to dilute such contamination.
In addition, this important indicator can be applied to both consumers (individuals, towns, cities, or even nations), as well as the main producers (public bodies and companies) around the world.
Water footprint of food – examples
As an example of water footprint that refers to both the use of water by consumers, as well as the producers, the Calculation of the water footprint of food.
In addition, it has become one of the most important water footprints worldwide, due to the alarming amounts of water that are calculated they are necessary for the production of foods that we consume in our day to day, such as:
- 13,000 liters of water are necessary to produce 1 kg of beef.
- 3,920 liters of water = 1 kg of chicken.
- 3,000 liters of water = 1 kg of rice.
In the following section of this article we will see in detail how the water footprint is calculated to obtain the data of water volumes that are used in the different food production processes and other goods and services.
How to calculate the water footprint – the step by step calculation
For the Quantification of the water footprintthe method may vary depending on the type of evaluation (individual consumer, consumer communities, or on the contrary, small and large -scale producers). Generally, the Steps to calculate the water footprint are the following:
- Data collection of the different types of use and water sources as a natural resource, including the reports associated with water footprints called green, blue and gray colors.
- Water balance per unit (volume and concentration of water inlets and outputs within the process). Subsequently, if necessary, it will be included within the global balance in which several processes are included.
- Analysis of the sustainability of the water footprint.
- Response to the water footprint, including projects and strategies aimed at reducing it.
You also have to take into account Strategies to reduce water footprint and avoid contamination and waste. You can learn more about water problems and the great importance of taking care of this natural resource in this other post about why it is important to take care of water.
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- Aldaya, M. et al., (2008) Importance of knowledge of the hydrological footprint for Spanish water policy. Multidisciplinary Meetings, UPM Digital ArchiveVolume 10 (29), pp: 1-12
- Elizalde, A. et al., (2015) Sustainability: Principles and practices. Digital Repository Technical University of the North.
- Higher Council for Scientific Research (2012) Water footprint of Spain and its territorial diversity. University of Alicante: Research Group in History, Climate and Territory Planning.
- Rendón, E. (2015) The water footprint as sustainability indicator and its application in Peru. Vice -Rectorate for ResearchVolume 2 (1).
