Water Footprint – Concepts and Your Plumbing
What is a Water Footprint?
Your water footprint is the amount of water you use in and around your home, school or office throughout the day. It includes the water you use directly (e.g., from a tap). It also includes the water it took to produce the food you eat, the products you buy, the energy you consume and even the water you save when you recycle. You may not drink, feel or see this virtual water, but it actually makes up the majority of your water footprint.
Water footprints can be calculated for individuals, households, businesses and countries. For our purposes we will examine water footprints and how they relate to water efficient plumbing and technology.
Why Do Water Footprints Matter?
Freshwater is vital to life, and as the world’s population grows, so does our use of it. Globally, the increase is due in part to more people drinking and bathing, but as developing countries like China and India grow more prosperous, more people are consuming more water-intensive food, electricity and consumer goods. This puts pressure on water resources, which is a concern in the arid parts of the US and the rest of the world where food is grown, goods are manufactured and water is already in short supply.
By the year 2030, experts predict that global demand for water will outstrip supply by 40 percent. Impacts from climate change may increase the likelihood of changes to the water cycle, leading to prolonged periods of drought (and, conversely, more extreme rainfall). Reduced water supplies could add to water insecurity both in the US and in other countries.
Water footprints help individuals, businesses and countries because they reveal water use patterns, from the individual level all the way to the national level. They shine a light on the water used in all the processes involved in manufacturing and producing our goods and services. A water footprint also accounts for the amount of water contaminated during manufacturing and production because that water is made unusable and is, essentially, taken out of the system.
The water footprint gives everyone – from individuals to business managers to public officials – a solid frame of reference that helps us all be more efficient and sustainable with our water use and appreciate the role of water in our lives.
