AquaPath!–!Module!3!aquapath-project.eu/calculator/documents/Module_3.pdfModule!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!...
Transcript of AquaPath!–!Module!3!aquapath-project.eu/calculator/documents/Module_3.pdfModule!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!...
![Page 1: AquaPath!–!Module!3!aquapath-project.eu/calculator/documents/Module_3.pdfModule!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production! This%project%has%been%funded%with%support%from%the%European%Commission.%This%](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062922/5f08226b7e708231d4208270/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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AquaPath!–!Module!3!!
WATER!FOOTPRINT!OF!CONSUMPTION!AND!PRODUCTION!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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EXECUTIVE!SUMMARY!!
The%water%footprint%of%production%of%a%nation%is%the%amount%of%local%water%resources%that%
are%used%to%produce%goods%and%services%within%a%country.%The%water%footprint%of%
consumption%of%a%nation%is%the%water%footprint%of%all%the%goods%and%services%that%are%
consumed%by%the%people%living%in%a%country.%Part%of%the%water%footprint%of%a%country%lies%
within%the%country’s%borders%(internal%water%footprint)%and%part%somewhere%else%in%the%
world%from%imported%products.%Worldwide,%averagely%22%%of%a%person’s%water%footprint%
lie%in%a%different%country%which%is%imported%virtual%water,%i.e.%water%used%to%produce%the%
imported%goods%at%their%place%of%origin.%Hence,%when%a%country%imports%or%exports%
commodities,%it%is%also%importing%or%exporting%the%water%that%was%necessary%to%produce%
such%commodities.%This%is%named%“virtual%water%trade”.%Europe%is%the%biggest%water%
importer%region%in%the%world.%In%other%countries%in%the%world,%such%as%India%and%
Paraguay%only%3%%of%the%national%water%footprint%of%consumption%is%external.%Together,%
the%water%footprint%of%production%and%consumption%tell%an%important%story%about%a%
nation’s%water%use%and%dependence%on%external%water%resources,%which%can%be%used%to%
help%governments%manage%their%water%resources%as%well%as%understand%the%links%
between%their%economic%development,%food%security%and%international%trade%relations%
and%water.!
1.! VIRTUAL!WATER!TRADE!!
1.1.! NATIONAL!WATER!FOOTPRINT!AND!VIRTUAL!WATER!
The% water% that% you% do% not% consume% directly,% but% which% was% necessary% to% produce%
something%you%eat,%buy%or%use,%is%“virtual%water”.%Virtual%water%[1]%is%defined%as%the%total%
volume%of%water%needed%to%produce%and%process%a%commodity%or%service%[2].%!
The%Water%Footprint%of%a%nation%can%be%viewed%from%two%perspectives:%production%and%
consumption.!
The%water%footprint%of%production%is%the%amount%of%local%water%resources%that%are%used%to%
produce% goods% and% services% within% a% country.% This% includes% the% water% footprint% of%
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!Link!to!indirect!WF!2!Hoekstra!AY,!Chapagain!AK!(2007).!"Water!footprints!of!nations:!water!use!by!people!as!a!function!of!their!consumption!pattern".!Water!Resources!Management!21!(1):!35–48!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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agriculture,%industry%and%domestic%water%use%and%tells%us%the%total%volume%of%water%[3]%and%
assimilation%capacity%[4]%consumed%within%the%borders%of%the%country%[5].!
We%can%also%view%the%water%footprint%from%the%perspective%of%consumption.%In%this%case,%
the%water%footprint%is%calculated%for%all%the%goods%and%services%that%are%consumed%by%the%
people%living%in%a%country.%This%water%footprint%may%be%partly%inside%the%country%and%partly%
outside%of%it,%depending%on%whether%the%products%are%locally%produced%or%imported.%!
!Figure!1.%Water%footprint%of%national%consumption%and%national%production%(Source:%
http://waterfootprint.org/en/waterRfootprint/nationalRwaterRfootprint/).!!
When% looking% in% detail% to% the% water% footprint% of% consumption% in% a% country,% there% are%
significant% differences% amongst% countries% in% the%world% about% how%much% of% that% water%
footprint%is%internal%(water%footprint%that%lies%in%the%country%where%the%good%is%consumed)%
or%external%(water%footprint%lies%somewhere%else%in%the%world%–%imported%goods).%!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!3!Link!to!blue!and!green!water!footprint!definitions!4!Link!to!grey!water!footprint!definition!5!Hoekstra!AY,!Chapagain!AK!(2007).!"Water!footprints!of!nations:!water!use!by!people!as!a!function!of!their!consumption!pattern".!Water!Resources!Management!21!(1):!35–48;!http://waterfootprint.org/en/waterRfootprint/nationalRwaterRfootprint/!!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
4!!
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Worldwide,%averagely%22%%of%a%person’s%water% footprint% lie% in%a%different%country% (836%
litres%out%of%3800%litres).%These%836%litres%are%imported%virtual%water,% i.e.%water%used%to%
produce%the%imported%goods%at%their%place%of%origin.%Hence,%when%a%country%imports%or%
exports%commodities,% it% is%also%importing%or%exporting%the%water%that%was%necessary%to%
produce% such% commodities.% This% is% named%
“virtual%water%trade”.!
The% average% European% citizen% external% water%
footprint%(part%of%the%water%footprint%which%relates%
to% imported% virtual% water)% is% higher% than% the%
world’s% average.% The% average% external% water%
footprint%of%European%Union%countries%is%54%%R%more%than%two%times%the%world’s%average.%
In%countries%like%Poland,%Hungary%and%Bulgaria%the%external%water%footprint%is%higher%than%
70%%and,%in%the%Netherlands%and%Malta%96%%and%92%%of%the%water%footprint%is%imported%[6],%respectively.%!
Europe%is%the%biggest%water%importer%region%in%the%world.%In%other%countries%in%the%world,%
such%as%India%and%Paraguay%only%3%%of% the%national%water% footprint%of%consumption% is%
external.!
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Use!the!National!Water!Footprint!Explorer!interactive!map!to!explore!all!nations’!internal!and!external!footprints:!http://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/interactiveRtools/nationalRwaterRfootprintRexplorer%!
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1.2.! VIRTUAL!WATER!TRADE!
When%looking%at%the%global%commodities%trade%in%the%world,%it%is%possible%to%identify%the%
biggest%water%importer%nations%(nations%in%orange%and%red%in%Figure%2)%and%the%biggest%
water%exporters%(nations%in%green%in%Figure%2).%%!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!6!Hoekstra,!A.Y.!and!Mekonnen,!M.M.!(2012)!The!water!footprint!of!humanity,!Proceedings!of!the!National!Academy!of!Sciences,!109(9):!3232–3237.!
The%average%European%citizen%external%water%footprint%is%more%than%two%times%higher%than%the%world’s%average.%!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
5!!
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Figure!2.%National%virtual%water%balances%–%arrows%show%gross%virtual%water%flows%bigger%than%15%15%million%cubic%meters%per%year%(Source:%Hoekstra,%A.Y.%and%Mekonnen,%M.M.%(2012)%The%water%footprint%of%humanity,%Proceedings%of%the%National%Academy%of%Sciences,%109(9):%3232–3237).!
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The%global%trade%in%goods%has%allowed%countries%with%limited%water%resources%to%rely%on%
water%resources%in%other%countries%to%meet%the%needs%of%their%inhabitants.%As%food%and%
other%products%are%traded%internationally,%their%water%footprint%follows%them%in%the%form%of%
virtual%water.%This%allows%us%to%link%the%water%footprint%of%production%to%the%water%footprint%
of%consumption,%wherever%they%occur.!
Countries% can% both% import% and% export% virtual% water% through% their% international% trade%
relations.%Globally,%the%major%gross%virtual%water%exporters%are%USA,%China,%India,%Brazil,%
Argentina,% Canada,% Australia,% Indonesia,%
France% and% Germany% and% the% major% gross%
virtual%water% importers%are% the%USA,%Japan,%
Germany,% China,% Italy,%Mexico,% France,% the%
UK% and% the% Netherlands.% The% largest% net%
exporters%of%virtual%water%are%found%in%North%
and% South% America% (the% USA,% Canada,% Brazil% and% Argentina),% Southern% Asia% (India,%
Pakistan,%Indonesia%and%Thailand)%and%Australia.%The%biggest%net%virtual%water%importers%
are%North%Africa%and%the%Middle%East,%Mexico,%Europe,%Japan%and%South%Korea.!
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!Learn!some!more:!�% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca3fB
BizR3U!�% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR
kAv5xOwEo%!
Europe%is%amongst%the%biggest%virtual%water%importers%in%the%World%along%with%North%Africa,%Middle%East,%Mexico,%Japan%and%South%Korea.%!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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1.3.! IMPORTANCE!OF!THE!VIRTUAL!WATER!TRADE!
As% nations%work% towards% securing% food,% water,% energy% and% other% essential% inputs% for%
people’s%wellbeing,%livelihoods%and%the%country’s%economic%development,%most%countries%
rely%on%imports%as%well%as%exports%of%goods%and%services.%A%country%may%aim%to%be%selfR
sufficient% by% relying%primarily% on%goods% that% can%be%produced%within% its% borders.%Or%a%
country%may%choose%to%reduce%the%burden%on%the%natural%resources%within%its%borders%by%
importing%water%intensive%products.!
A%country%may%select%energy%security%by%using%its%natural%resources%to%produce%electricity%
in%exchange%for%food%security%by%importing%food.%The%water%footprint%and%its%translation%
into%virtual%water%can%illuminate%these%choices%and%their%interRdependencies.%Virtual%water%
helps%us%understand%the%dependencies%our%economies%have%on%others’%resources.!
Coupling%this%with%the%water% footprint%enables%us%to%map%out% the%dependencies%and%to%
identify% when% and% where% risks% may% lie,% in% terms% of% scarcity% and% pollution.% This% has%
implications%for%food%security,%economy%and%diplomacy.%!
For%waterRscarce%countries%it%can%sometimes%
be%attractive%to% import%virtual%water%(through%
import% of% waterRintensive% products),% thus%
relieving%the%pressure%on%the%domestic%water%
resources.% This% happens,% for% example,% in%
Mediterranean% countries,% the% Middle% East%
and%Mexico.%Northern%European%countries%import%a%lot%of%water%in%virtual%form%(more%than%
they%export),%but%this%is%not%driven%by%water%scarcity.!
Virtual%water% flows% help% us% see% how% the%water% resources% in% one% country% are% used% to%
support%consumption%in%another%country.!
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!Learn!some!more!!The!Water!Footprint!of!Modern!Consumer!Society:!�% https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=6XvBxC9XMpE%!!
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Countries%with%scarce%water%resources%may%reduce%their%domestic%water%consumption%by%importing%goods%which%require%large%amounts%of%water%to%be%produced.%!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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2.! TYPICAL!WATER!FOOTPRINTS!OF!EUROPEAN!CONSUMERS!The%water%footprint%of%an%European%Union%consumer%is%5130%litres%per%day.%This%means%
that%the%average%annual%water%footprint%of%an%European%Union%consumer%is%equivalent%to%
the%volume%of%water%necessary% to% fill% in% two% thirds%of%an%Olympic%swimming%pool.%The%
European%Union%consumer%water%footprint%is%also%25%%higher%than%the%world’s%average%
consumer% water% footprint7% R% 3800% litres% per%
day.!
Luxembourg,% Portugal% and% Spain% have% the%
top% water% footprints% in% the% EU% (and% in% the%
world),% and% only% the% United% Kingdom% and%
Slovakia% have% an% average% consumption%
water%footprint%per%capita%below%the%world’s%average%(see%Figure%3).!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!7!Hoekstra,!A.Y.!and!Mekonnen,!M.M.!(2012)!The!water!footprint!of!humanity,!Proceedings!of!the!National!Academy!of!Sciences,!109(9):!3232–3237.;!WaterStat,!available!at:!http://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/waterRfootprintRstatistics/!!
European%Union%citizens%have,%in%average%a%25%%higher%water%footprint%than%the%rest%of%the%world,%with%Luxembourg,%Portugal%and%Spain%leading.%%!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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Figure!3.%Water%footprint%of%national%consumption%in%the%European%Union%Countries.%(Source:%Hoekstra,%A.Y.%and%Mekonnen,%M.M.%(2012)%The%water%footprint%of%humanity,%Proceedings%of%the%
National%Academy%of%Sciences,%109(9):%3232–3237.l%WaterStat,%available%at:%http://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/waterRfootprintRstatistics/).!
!
Why%do%European%nations%have% in% average%a%higher%water% footprint% than%most% of% the%
countries%in%the%world?%And%why%are%countries%like%Luxemburg,%Portugal%and%Spain%on%
top?!
When%we%look%at%the%graph%in%Figure%3,%we%can%see%that%the%largest%share%of%the%water%
footprint%of%consumers%is%green!water!footprint,%which%is%water%that%is%used%to%grow%the%crops%used%as:!
●% Food%and%ingredients%to%prepare%our%food%–%like%fruits,%vegetables,%rice,%cereals,%
sugar,%oil,%flour,%pastal!
●% Animal%feed%for%animal%products%–%like%eggs,%milk,%cheese,%meatl!
●% Non%edible%crops%–%like%cotton%to%produce%clothes.!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
9!!
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Figure%4%presents%the%water%footprint%of%the%average%European%[8]%citizen%per%sector.%It%is%
possible%to%see%that%in%average%46%%of%our%water%footprint%is%related%to%the%production%of%
animal% products% and% 37%% to% crops% [9].% This%means% that%more% than% 80%% of% our% water%
footprint%as%consumers%relates%to%what%we%eat%[10].!
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Figure!4.%European%Union%consumers%average%water%footprint%per%sector.%(Source:%D.%Vanham,%A.Y.%Hoekstra,%G.%Bidoglio%(2013).%Potential)water)saving)through)changes)in)European)diets.%
Environment%International%61%(2013)%45–56).!!
Therefore%a%nation’s%consumption%water% footprint% is%very%much%related%to% the%citizens’%
dietary% habits,% which% are% also% related% to% average% income% and% cultural% habits% (link% to%
Module%4).%On%the%other%hand,%in%some%territories,%the%amount%of%water%required%to%grow%
certain%crops%is%higher%due%to%climatic%conditions%(like%in%Mediterranean%countries%where%
summers%are%hotter%and%dryer%than%in%central%or%northern%Europe).%!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!8!Within!the!28!European!Union!countries:!Austria,!Belgium,!Bulgaria,!Croatia,!Cyprus,!Czech!Republic,!Denmark,! Estonia,! Finland,!Germany,!Greece,!Hungary,! Italy,! Latvia,! Luxembourg,!Malta,!Netherlands,!Poland,!Portugal,!Romania,!Slovakia,!Slovenia,!Spain,!Sweden!and!United!Kingdom.!9!D.!Vanham,!A.Y.!Hoekstra,!G.!Bidoglio!(2013).!Potential!water!saving!through!changes!in!European!diets.!Environment!International!61!(2013)!45–56.!10!Link!to!module!4!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
10!!
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The%European%Union%countries%are%divided%in%four%geographical%zones%(according%to%the%
UN%standard%country%or%area%codes%and%geographical%regions):%!
●% NORTH:%Ireland,%UK,%Sweden,%Finland,%Denmark,%Estonia,%Latvia,%Lithuania!
●% WEST:%Germany,%Belgium,%The%Netherlands,%Luxembourg,%France,%Austria!
●% EAST:%Poland,%Czech%Republic,%Slovakia,%Hungary,%Romania,%Bulgaria!
●% SOUTH:%Portugal,%Spain,%Italy,%Slovenia,%Croatia,%Greece,%Malta,%Cyprus!
!
When%the%diet%habits%of%these%regions%are%compared%against%what%are%the%recommended%
dietary%quantities%(Figure%5),%it%is%possible%to%verify%that:!
�% Sugar,% crop% oils% and% animal% fats% product% groups% are% consumed% above%
recommended%amounts%and%should%be%reduced%in%all%four%regionsl!
�% Vegetables%and%fruit%consumption%are%below%recommended%quantities%and%should%
be%increased%in%all%four%regionsl!
�% Apart%from%the%North,%the%intake%of%meat%is%high%above%the%recommended%amounts%
and%should%drastically%be% reduced.%This% is%particularly%visible% in% the%South%and%
West,% where% consumers’% water% footprints% are% higher% (Portugal,% Spain% and%
Luxembourg).%!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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Figure!5.%Intake%products%(kilogram%per%capita%per%year)%and%has%recommended%for%healthy%diet%for%the%EU%zones.%(Source:%D.%Vanham,%A.Y.%Hoekstra,%G.%Bidoglio%(2013).%Potential)water)saving)through)changes)in)European)diets.%Environment%International%61%(2013)%45–56).!
!
Therefore,% changing% diet% habits% can% significantly% contribute% to% the% water% footprint%
reduction.%Check%out%how%much%meat%products%you%eat%and%try%to%find%ways%to%reduce%
your%water%footprint%by%changing%your%habits%(link%to%Module%IV).!
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3.! LOCAL!VS!GLOBAL!AND!IMPLICATIONS!FOR!WATER!POLICY!Together,%the%water%footprint%of%production%and%consumption%tell%an%important%story%about%
a%nation’s%water%use%and%dependence%on%external%water%resources,%which%can%be%used%
to% help% governments% manage% their% water% resources% as% well% as% understand% the% links%
between%their%economic%development,%food%security%and%international%trade%relations%and%
water.!
The%water%footprint%of%production%measures%the%amount%of%pressure%that%is%being%put%on%
local%water%resources%and%forms%the%basis%for%determining%whether%they%are%being%used%
in%a%sustainable%way.%The%water%footprint%of%consumption%reflects%the%standard%of%living%
and%lifestyle%choices%of%the%country’s%residents.%Understanding%how%much%of%that%water%
![Page 12: AquaPath!–!Module!3!aquapath-project.eu/calculator/documents/Module_3.pdfModule!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production! This%project%has%been%funded%with%support%from%the%European%Commission.%This%](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062922/5f08226b7e708231d4208270/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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footprint%is%within%its%borders%and%the%amount%and%location%of%the%water%footprint%that%is%
elsewhere%is%a%first%step%toward%assessing%the%country’s%external%water%dependence%and%
its%influence%on%food%and%other%forms%of%security%(link%to%module%2).!
Countries%with%limited%water%resources%such%as%North%Africa,%Mexico%and%the%Middle%East%
must%depend%on%imported%goods%to%fulfil%all%the%needs%of%their%populations.%This%is%also%
true%for%countries%with%limited%land%area%like%Japan%and%Singapore.%Europe,%whilst%rich%in%
water%resources%and%land%area,%has%half%of%its%water%footprint%outside%its%borders.%!
!
3.1.! !WATER!SAVING!BY!TRADE!
Many%nations%save%domestic%water%resources%by%importing%waterRintensive%products%and%
exporting%commodities%that%are%less%water%intensive.%National%water%saving%through%the%
import%of%a%product%can%imply%saving%water%at%a%global%level%if%the%flow%is%from%sites%with%
relatively%high%water%productivity%(i.e.%commodities%with%a%small%water%footprint)%to%sites%
with%low%water%productivity%(commodities%with%a%large%water%footprint).!
The%total%amount%of%water%that%would%have%been%required%in%the%importing%countries%if%all%
imported%agricultural%products%were%produced%domestically%is%2%407%billion%cubic%meters%
per% year.%These%products%are,% however,% being%produced%with%only%2%038%billion% cubic%
meters%per%year%in%the%exporting%countries,%saving%global%water%resources%by%369%billion%
cubic%meters%per%year% [11].%This%saving%is%equivalent%to%4%%of%the%global%water%footprint%
related%to%agricultural%production%(which%is%8%363%billion%cubic%meters%per%year).!
National% policy% makers% in% waterRscarce% countries% are% likely% to% be% more% interested% in%
national%water%savings%than%in%global%water%savings.%There%are%many%examples%of%waterR
poor% countries% that% save% their% domestic%water% resources% by% importing%waterRintensive%
goods.%Mexico,% for%example,% imports%maize%and,% in%doing%so,% it% saves%12%billion%cubic%
meters%per%year%of%its%national%water%resources.%This%is%the%volume%of%water%that%it%would%
need%domestically%if%it%had%to%produce%the%imported%maize%within%the%country.!
!
3.2.! HOW!TO!ACHIEVE!A!SUSTAINABLE!NATIONAL!WATER!FOOTPRINT!
Achieving%a%sustainable%national%water%footprint,%means%working%both%in%the%country%and%
outside%its%boundaries.!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!National%virtual%water%balances%–%arrows%show%gross%virtual%water%flows%bigger%than%15%15%million%cubic%meters% per% year% (Source:%Hoekstra,!A.Y.! and!Mekonnen,!M.M.! (2012)!The!water! footprint!of!humanity,!Proceedings!of!the!National!Academy!of!Sciences,!109(9):!3232–3237.)!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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Governments% can% engage% with% businesses% and% establish% mechanisms% encouraging%
companies%to%be%resource%efficient%and%transparent%in%their%water%use.%Creating%legislation%
or%voluntary!agreements%per%sector%to%promote%product%transparency%and%disclosure%on%
water%footprint%is%one%example%of%this.%Governments%can%also%engage%with%their%citizens%
raising%their%awareness%of%the%water%footprint%of%their%consumption%and%ways%to%reduce%it.!
Outside%their%borders%governments%can%focus%foreign%aid%on%improving%the%sustainable%
management%of%water%resources%in%locations%where%the%external%water%footprint%lies,%work%
with% trade% partners% to% ensure% sustainable% production% of% goods% that% are% imported% and%
exported%and,%ultimately,%can%work%towards%the%promotion%of%international%agreements%on%
maximum%sustainable%water%footprint%limits%and%equitable%sharing%of%the%water%footprint%
of%consumption.!
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3.3.! FAIR!AND!SMART!WATER!USE!
Governments%can%secure%longRterm%sustainability%of%freshwater%resources%use%by:!
●% Setting%maximum%sustainable%limits%for%water%consumption%and%water%pollution%in%
river% basins% and% aquifers% to% ensure% the% appropriate% balance% between% water%
people% and% nature.% These% limits% can% be% defined% through% a% geographic%Water%
Footprint%Assessment%(link%to%what%is%a%WFA),%which%provides%information%on%river%
basins’%and%aquifers’%water%availability%and%pollution%assimilation%capacity.!
●% Establishing%water% footprint% benchmarks% for% producers% and% sectors,% based% on%
best%available%technologies%and%practices%to%drive%improved%resource%efficiency.!
●% Establishing%equitable%allocation/fair%sharing%of%water%footprints%within%river%basins%
and%amongst%all%people.!
Extending% water% use% statistics% beyond% what% is% traditionally% accounted% will% provide%
governments%with%the%information%needed%to%manage%their%water%resources%and%external%
water%dependence%in%a%comprehensive%way.%Traditional%national%water%use%accounts%only%
refer%to%the%water%withdrawal%within%a%country.%They%do%not%distinguish%between%water%use%
for% making% products% for% domestic% consumption% and% water% use% for% producing% export%
products.%They%also%exclude%data%on%water%use%outside%the%country%related%to%the%water%
footprint%of%consumption.!
In%addition,%they%include%blue%water%use%only,%excluding%green%and%grey%water%footprints.%
In%order%to%support%broader%analyses%and%to%better%inform%decisionRmaking,%the%traditional%
national%water%use%accounts%need%to%be%extended.!
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Module!II!–!Water!Footprint!of!Consumption!and!Production!
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This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein!
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Extending%water%use%statistics%to%include%all%aspects%of%the%water%footprint%will%broaden%
the% basis% for% the% formulation% of% integrated% water% resources% management% plans% and%
policies,%improved%water%governance%and%sustainable%development.!
By% looking% only% at%water% use% in% their% own% country,% governments% tend% to% overlook% the%
question% of% whether% national% consumption% is% sustainable.% Many% countries% have%
significantly% externalised% their%water% footprint%without% assessing%whether% the% imported%
products% are% related% to% water% depletion% or% pollution% in% the% producing% countries.% Few%
countries% that% have% externalised% their% water% footprint% fully% understand% their% resultant%
dependency%on%foreign%freshwater%resources%and%overlook%the%potential%risks%this%might%
incur.!
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!Learn!some!more:!�% https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=plfiHRw1a_U!!
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