Water Footprints of Nations

From: Hoekstra, A.Y., & Chapagain, A.K. (2007) Water footprints of nations: Water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resource Management 21: 35-48.

What is a country’s water footprint?

“…The amount of water needed for the production of the goods and

services consumed by the inhabitants of that country.”

» Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2007

What are the two parts of a water footprint?

Internal Water

FootprintWater used

from sources inside the country

External Water

FootprintWater used outside a

country to make stuff that’s imported in

The Four Reasons There are four

big things that affect size of a water footprint

How much is CONSUMED

The more ‘things’ people buy, the more water is being used.

People in more developed countries use and waste… because they can always buy more!

#1

What is CONSUMED

The type of ‘things’ that are bought in the country.

Different products use different amounts of water. For example, meat and steel are expensive in terms of money and water.

#2

What the CLIMATE is

More water is wasted in dry countries than in wet when trying to grow food.

Water is lost to evaporation when irrigating crops. Crops must be watered more often, too.

#3

How they FARM

Crops can be watered more or less efficiently.

How efficient irrigation is in a country affects its water footprint.

Efficient farming depends on money, education and politics.

#4

Water Footprints of Nations

Water Footprints in cubic metres per person per year.• Red: Above Global Average• Green: At or Below Global Average

Development Level

• Advanced economies: Blue • Developing countries: Orange & Red

– More developed economies: Orange– Least developed economies: Red

1.Many countries with advanced development have large water footprints. Why do you think this is?

2.Some less developed countries have large water footprints. Why do you think this is?

Thinking back over the presentation, answer the following questions: