Virtual Water

Sunshine Coast Regional District 1975 Field Road Sechelt, BC

Introduction

Have you ever thought about how the food you eat ends up on the shelves of your local grocery store or super market? Where does it come from? How does it get there? More importantly, how much water does it take to produce the goods we purchase, not only edible goods, but clothing and other consumer items as well.

The discussion and debate surrounding impacts and 9,000 Litres of water are influence humans have on the change in climate and the environment has brought forth the concept of a required to grow 1 kilogram of “carbon footprint”, a proxy for one’s contribution to wheat global carbon emissions. More recently another footprint has been developed, a “water footprint”. The water footprint of an individual acts as an indicator of water use, taking into account direct and indirect consumption patterns. These patterns are looked at on an individual, regional, and national scale.

Water Footprint

The water footprint of an individual is defined as the total water used for the production of goods consumed by the individual. An individual's domestic water consumption is also factored into their footprint, including water used for hygienic purposes. Mr. Arjen Y. Hoekstra introduced this concept in 2002, providing an alternative to the sector based water consumption indicators.

There are a number of different perspectives when defining ‘virtual water’. The virtual water content of a good is the volume of freshwater that is used to produce the good or service, measured at the place of production. On the consumer-side, virtual water is defined as the volume of water that would have been It takes 2,000 litres of water to required to produce the product at the location of grow enough cotton to produce consumption (i.e. production, refinement, processing, one t-shirt transportation...).

Global Trade

Global Virtual-Water Trade

If there is virtual water which is being imported into a country, in the form of raw and/or processed goods which required water for production, this “virtual water” volume should then be added to their total In the country of Jordon, domestic usage; more accurately gauging national 80-90 percent of the nation’s water consumption. Virtual water would be deducted domestic water demands come from national consumption where a nation exports from the import of virtual water. goods (Hoekstra & Chapagain 2007).

The water footprint of a nation is defined as the total volume of fresh water that is used to produce the goods consumed by the people of the given nation. As not all goods are both produced and consumed within its own borders, it is important to incorporate both imported and exported virtual water into a nation’s total water demand.

Sum of Domestic Water Use + Net Virtual Water Import= National Water Footprint

The United States net export of The trade of virtual water has increased over the past virtual water amounts to one-third 40 years, with over 1,000 km3 of water currently being of the country’s demand. traded per annum. The trading of virtual water accounts for approximately 15% of total global water use, while cereals, such as wheat, rice, maize and barely, account for approximately 20-40% of virtual water trade (FAO 2008).

Virtual Water Conservation

Individual Impact When people discuss water Water Usage, Daily Consumption: conservation it is usually in regard to preserving the water that they Drinking Water: 2-3 litres see on a day-to-day basis. It is the water that people wash their hands Daily Domestic Needs (ranging from): with, shower with, flush down the - Ethiopia 30 liters toilet, and drink out of the tap. - British Columbia 440 litres (CMHC 1998) Until recently, little light has been shed on how our rates and styles of Virtual Water Content: consumption can greatly impact the - Vegetarian Diet 1,500 litres amount of water we consume - Meat Diet 4,000 litres directly and indirectly, and more importantly our individual, regional, and national water footprint.

Do your part to reduce your water footprint.

Sources and Recommended Readings Reports 1. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. “Water Efficiency” 2. Hoekstra & Chapagain. 2007. “Water footprints of nations: Water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern”. 3. Allan. 1998. “Virtual Water: A Strategic Resource” 4. World Water Council. 2004. “E-Conference Synthesis: Virtual Water Trade–Conscious Choices”. 5. World Wildlife Fund. 2003. “Thirsty Crops” 6. World Wildlife Fund. “Thirsty crops cause water shortages and pollution”

Websites 1. Water Footprint Network 2. Environmental News Network 3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.