The water footprint is a vital tool for promoting sustainable water management, informing decisions in business, policy, and consumption patterns.
Authors
Sadashiv Chaturvedi, School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, P.R. China
Amit Kumar, School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, P.R. China
Liu Min, School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, P.R. China
Junjie Lin, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
Dafeng Hui, Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, United States
Tarun Kumar Thakur, Department of Environmental Science, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (A Central University), Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India
Rupesh Kumar, Professor, Jindal Global Business School (JGBS), O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Summary
The water footprint (WF) is a comprehensive metric that measures the total amount of water consumption involved in the production of goods and services. It encompasses both direct and indirect water use, including blue water from fresh surface and groundwater, green water from rainfall, and gray water associated with wastewater and runoff. By providing insights into the impact of their activities on freshwater resources, the WF helps businesses, policymakers, and consumers understand and manage water use more effectively. The WF can be calculated for products, consumers, businesses, and geographic regions, providing a detailed view of water usage across the entire supply chain. Understanding the WF is crucial for promoting sustainable development and responsible resource management. It raises awareness of consumption patterns and encourages the adoption of more sustainable practices. For businesses, the WF can identify opportunities for water conservation and efficiency, leading to cost savings and improved reputation. Governments can leverage WF data to develop policies that support sustainable water management and ecosystem protection. Additionally, consumers can use WF information to make informed choices, fostering a shift toward more sustainable consumption patterns. The WF has grown into an established idea for investigating water use and its local consequences in agricultural and industrial output. Leveraging on recent advances, the WF concept is poised to be a useful tool for achieving all 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). This chapter intends to illustrate the WF concept’s potential to guide decision-making in both the public and business domains, ultimately leading to better water management and the achievement of the SDGs.
Published in: Water Footprints: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
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