By now, we’ve all heard of the Carbon Footprint — the measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. The Water footprint of an individual is defined as the total water used for the production of the goods and services consumed by the individual. It can be estimated by multiplying all goods and services consumed by their respective virtual-water content.The water footprint of a nation shows the total volume of water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. The water footprint consists of two parts: Use of domestic water resources and use of water outside the borders of the country. The water footprint includes water withdrawn from surface and groundwater and the use of soil water (in agricultural production).
Reducing your water footprint will reduce your utility costs, but it will also lead to a more sustainable future. According to the World Bank, world-wide demand for water is doubling every 21 years, more in some regions. Water supply cannot remotely keep pace with demand, as populations soar.
Greater water usage isn't just from population growth. It is also associated with rising standards of living (e.g., diets containing less grain and more meat). To produce 1 kilogram of beef we need 16,000 liters of water.
Eating more veggies is a start, but keep this in mind: To produce 1 cup of coffee we need 140 liters of water. (Kind of makes those ecotainers seem a little less exciting, huh?)
Want to make a change?
Calculate your personal water footprint.
Find ways to save water around your home.
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