Water footprinting Overview

Date: 20 December 2014

Agenda

 Introduction on Water Footprinting

 Water footprinting calculation concepts

 Water footprinting global perspective

Introduction on Water
Footprinting
 Introduction on Water Footprinting

1 Direct & indirect water footprint 2 Water footprint calculation

It is an indicator of water use that It is measured in terms of water

looks at both direct and indirect water volumes consumed (evaporated or
use of a consumer or producer. It is otherwise not returned) or polluted per
expressed in m3 unit of time

4 Future challenges 3 Impact Assessment and mitigant(s)

There are challenges in context of It is comparison between the human

change in climatic conditions and use water footprint with Earth’s
of Water Footprinting to tackle it sustainable support
1 Direct & indirect water footprint

Operational water The direct water use by the producer – for producing, manufacturing or for
footprint supporting activities

Supply-chain
The indirect water use in the producer’s supply chain
water footprint

Describing the direct and indirect water footprint

Water Consumption Water Pollution

Direct Water
Green footprint Blue footprint Grey footprint
footprint

Indirect Water
Green footprint Blue footprint Grey footprint
footprint

Indicates consumption through rain water

Indicates consumption through water withdrawal from earth
Indicates fresh water used to dilute pollutants
2 Water footprint calculation

Sum of the water footprints of the process steps taken to produce the
Product
product

Consumer Sum of the water footprints of all products consumed by the consumer

Community Sum of the water footprints of all its members

National
Sum of the water footprints of all its inhabitants
consumption

Business Sum of the water footprints of the final products that the business produces

Geographically
Sum of the water footprints of all processes taking place in that area
delineated area
3 Impact Assessment and mitigant(s)

Analyzing how human activities or specific products are relating to issues

Definition of water scarcity and pollution, and to see how products can become more
sustainable from water perspective

Description of different perspectives

Reduction of direct footprint Reduction of indirect footprint

Finding alternatives for the
Water saving toilet, shower-head,
Consumer product that has a large water
etc.
footprint

Transform business model in

Business Water saving in own operations order to incorporate or better
control supply chains

Supporting / forcing businesses

to reduce their footprints through
Reducing the water footprint of
Government legislations
public services
Promoting water labelling/water
certifications
4 Future challenges

Traditional business accounts approach pays no attention to water

consumption and pollution in supply chain
Embedding WF in Conventional national accounts approach overlooks virtual water imports
existing reports and exports as a part of WF of national consumption which lies offshore
It is necessary to start incorporating in government and international
statistics, for example; UNEP reports, world bank reports, etc.

These concepts have their own specific roots quantifying different

Linking to indicators showing both striking similarities and differences
ecological, energy The various footprint concepts are to be regarded as complementary
and carbon indicators of natural capital use in relation to human consumption
footprinting Future research challenge is to bring the various footprint concepts
related methods together in one consistent framework

Linking to material
Analysing the flow of materials in a well defined system and using
flow analysis,
material exchange study within an economy and between an economy and
output-input
natural environment
modelling and life
cycle assessment
Water footprinting
calculation concepts
Water footprinting of cotton production chain
0.16 1.07 Cotton seed oil,
Cotton seed oil
0.47 1.00 refined

Hulling/ 0.51 Cotton seed

Cotton seed
extraction 0.33 cake

0.63
0.18 0.10
0.20
Cotton linters
Harvesting
Cotton plant Seed-cotton Ginning
0.05
0.35 0.10
Garnetted stock
0.82

1.00 Cotton, not Carding/

Cotton lint 1.00 carded or combed Spinning

0.95 Cotton, carded or

0.99 combed (yarn)

Knitting/
weaving
0.95 0.05
0.99 0.10

Grey fabric Yarn waste

Wet processing

1.00
1.00

Fabric
Legend
Finishing

0 .35 Product fraction 1.00

1.00

0 .82 Value fraction Final textile

Water footprinting
global perspective
Regional virtual water balances
(only agricultural trade)
Virtual water flows India
5

North
India

-46

West 9 22
India
East
13 India
9
-8 +34

1
2

10
4

+4
Signifies the movement of water
South through import and export
India

Unit: Gm3/yr
Water footprint per capita
3000
Domestic water consumption Industrial goods Agricultural goods

2500
Water footprint (m 3 /cap/yr)

2000

1500 Global average water

footprint
1000

500

Russia
Mexico

Italy

USA
Pakistan

Brazil

Thailand
India

Nigeria
China

Japan

Indonesia
Global water footprint by color

Green water footprint

Blue water footprint

Grey water footprint

Global water footprint by sector

Agricultural water footprint

Industrial water footprint

Domestic water footprint

International water governance

product labelling?
certification of industries?
water disclosure?

global water footprint reduction targets?

a Kyoto protocol on water?

WTO trade rules?

an international water pricing protocol?

minimum water rights?

coherent energy-water strategies?

Water footprint website: www.waterfootprint.org
 Thank You
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