Water Footprint CalculationFramework
1- The water footprint indicates the use of fresh water, which not only examines the direct use of water by a consumer or producer, but also deals with the indirect use of water.
2- The water footprint can be considered as a comprehensive index and indicator of the allocation of fresh water resources, almost like the traditional and limited measurement of water withdrawal.
3- The water footprint of a product is the volume of fresh water used to produce that product and it is measured throughout the entire supply chain.
Key concepts in water footprint prevention
– Consumption: indicates the loss of water from an available water source on the surface of the earth in a watershed. Consumption
Loss and wastage: occurs when water evaporates and returns to another watershed or the sea or is incorporated into a product. loss
– Green water footprint: indicates the use of green water resources (rainwater until it is drained).
– Blue water footprint: It indicates the consumption of water sources (surface and underground) during the supply chain of a product.
– Gray water footprint: refers to pollution and is defined as the amount of fresh water that is required to equalize the load of pollution, taking into account the concentrations of the natural environment and the water quality standards of the existing environment.
“Water footprint assessment” refers to a full range of activities for:
0- Determining the scope and goals
1- Calculating the quantity and location of the water footprint of a process, product, producer or consumer or the amount of space and time of the water footprint in a specific geographical area
2- Evaluation of the environmental, social and economic sustainability of this water footprint
Assessing the sustainability of the water footprint, comparing the human water footprint with what the Earth can sustainably provide. For example, sustainability has different dimensions (environmental, social, economic), effects can be formulated at different levels (primary, secondary effects) and water footprints have different colors (green, blue, gray).
3- Formulating a response strategy
In general, the purpose of water footprint assessment is to analyze what human activities or specific goods and products have to do with water pollution and scarcity and how these activities and goods can be made more sustainable from the point of view of water.