Water footprint

Markus Berger

Chapter 187 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 704-706 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Considering that 4 billion people are living in water-stressed regions and that global water use is predicted to increase continuously, the analysis of water consumption and pollution along supply chains is of great relevance. Starting in the 1970s, the water embedded in crops and its trade between nations has been analyzed. Based on this concept, the water footprint has been developed in the water management community in the early 2000s as an indicator measuring the direct and indirect water use of products, producers, and consumers in a geographically explicit way. A few years later, water consumption has gained attention in life cycle assessment, but with a focus on analyzing its local consequences on ecosystems, human health, and freshwater resources. An ISO 14046 standard, as well as tools and guidelines for practitioners, are available to measure, analyze, and reduce our water footprints.

Keywords: Water footprint; Virtual water; Water use; Water consumption; Water pollution; Life Cycle Assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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