Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector

Measuring Your Water Footprint: What’s Next in Water Strategy

2010-03-04T00:00:00Z

BY ARJEN Y. HOEKSTRA, UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE

The water footprint of a business is measured by considering two elements: the company’s operations and its supply chain.

The first measurement looks at the direct freshwater use — the amount of freshwater used within the business itself. The supply chain water footprint refers to the indirect freshwater use — the water used to produce all the goods and services that form the input of the business.

A water footprint carries three components: blue, green and gray. The blue water footprint is the volume of freshwater that evaporated from the global blue water resources (surface and groundwater); the green water footprint is the volume of water evaporated from the global green water resources (rainwater stored in the soil); and the gray water footprint is the volume of polluted water associated with the production of goods and services.

The water footprint is a geographically explicit indicator, showing not only volumes of water use and pollution, but also the locations.

Italy: The water needed for Italians to eat pasta and pizza

2010-05-03T00:00:00Z

Water resources use in agriculture is generally quantified in relation to the harvest. In contrast, this paper takes a consumer perspective by assessing water use in relation to the final consumer product. The paper analyses the water use related to two products that are typical to Italian consumers: pasta and pizza margherita. We use the water footprint concept as a tool to quantify and localise this water use. The water footprint of a product is the volume of freshwater used to produce the product, measured over the various steps of the production chain. We find that the water footprint of dry pasta made in Italy amounts to 1924 l of water per kilogram of pasta. The water footprint of a 725 g pizza margherita is 1216 l of water. The impacts of the water footprints of pasta and pizza depend on the vulnerability of the water systems where the footprints are located. The impact of the water footprint of pasta is most severe in Puglia and Sicily, where groundwater overexploitation for durum wheat irrigation is common. The impact of the water footprint of pizza is more diverse. It is concentrated in the first step of the supply chain of tomato puree and mozzarella, i.e. in the cultivation of tomatoes and the feed crops of dairy cows. The bread wheat used for the pizza base does not have large impacts. The water footprint impact of the tomato puree on the pizza is concentrated in Puglia (groundwater overexploitation and pollution related to tomato cultivation) and Emilia-Romagna (water pollution). The water footprint impact of mozzarella lies mostly in the effects of water use for producing the feed ingredients for the dairy cows. Mozzarella production further poses a potential threat to water quality, mostly in the Po valley, but this problem seems to be properly regulated, although possibly not fully controlled.

Water footprint in Iraq

2010-08-11T17:20:05Z

Water labels on food: Issues and recommendations

Ruth Segal & Tom MacMillan (July 2009) ; DESA/UNSD ; UNESCWA - 2/1/2008 — 2010-08-11T19:22:40Z

The Meat Crisis

2010-08-25T12:34:09Z

'This book contains truths too important to dismiss, too frightening to ignore.' Joanna Lumley, actress and campaigner

The Meat Crisis explores issues surrounding the global growth in the production and consumption of meat and dairy animals and products, including cultural and health factors, and the implications of the likely intensification of farming for both small-scale producers and for the animals... read more

"About 85 per cent of humanity’s water footprint is related to the consumption of agricultural products..." Read our latest blog posts relating to this book

Buy this book

Virtual water

2010-12-09T18:36:26Z

Water, food and trade

2010-12-09T18:37:01Z

First “Global Water Footprint Standard” Training Course

2011-04-21T11:44:33Z

Registration is now open for the first Global Water Footprint Standard Training Course that will take place 10-12 May 2011 in Amsterdam . After concluding this course, participants will receive the Certificate of the Global Water Footprint Standard Training Course, which provides proof in the market that the individual holding the certificate is acquainted with the global water footprint standard. The certificate is stamped by the Water Footprint Network.

River basin game

2011-04-21T11:44:33Z

The University of Twente developed a computer-supported classroom game that illustrates various phenomena that take place when farmers compete over water. With whatever group you play, it’s always fun and a great learning experience.

In this game, participants are farmers who try to optimise their benefits in farming by irrigating their fields. They have enough fertile land; water is the limiting factor. The game realistically illustrates various phenomena that take place when people use water in a river basin. Participants will learn about ‘the tragedy of the commons’, about cooperation, free-rider behaviour and upstream-downstream effects.

The game can be played at different levels, from secondary school and university level up to the professional level; the facilitator will have to adjust explanations and feedback according to the level of the participants. With whatever group you play, it’s always fun and a great learning experience.