What is a Water Footprint?
Water footprint is a term that expresses the quality and quantity of water consumed by processing. Today, the water footprint used in the production of a product / service on a large scale can be calculated. In short, water footprint is a term that expresses the quality and quantity of water consumed by processing. Today, the water footprint used in the production of a product / service on a large scale can be calculated. Likewise, the small-scale water footprint used by a person in their daily life can be calculated. With the water footprint calculation process, we can measure how many cubic meters of clean water are wasted, as well as how much we cost if we save water in the same process. Moreover, it is possible to classify water according to its type and correct the quality of water spent during consumption.
Conceptualized by Arjen Hoekstra at UNESCO-IHE in 2002, the “water footprint” refers to the amount of water used to produce all kinds of goods and services used in society. It refers to the amount of water used in almost every sector, from making baby items to the fuel we put in our cars, the clothes we wear, and the production of shoes, and the amount of water we consume directly or indirectly as consumers.
Water footprint;
1- Service / Product, (Amount of water consumed and polluted during the production process of a good)
2- Businesses / Institutions, (Measurement of the total water consumed by a business in general)
3- Nationwide (Local water resources used to produce goods and services in the geography we live in)
4- Individual scale (amount of water we consume in daily life) can be calculated.
What are the Components of the Water Footprint?
We can consider the components of the “water footprint” in three different categories;
1- Blue Water Footprint: As the name suggests, these are waters obtained from surface and underground sources. The “blue water footprint” indicates the volume of underground and surface waters used for production in industry, technology and agriculture.
2- Green Water Footprint indicates the volume of natural rainwater usage, and what percentage of the water you consume is from rainwater, considering the rainfall amounts.
3- ‘Grey Water Footprint’ is the value that determines the water pollution that occurs in the production of a product or service. We can also think of it as water pollution caused by an individual or a production in daily activities. Grey water footprint is not just waste-dirty water. Grey water footprint is also defined as clean water spent to reduce the effect of the pollution that occurs.
What is the use of knowing our water footprint? First of all, it helps us understand and correct the purposes for which our limited freshwater resources are being consumed and polluted. Moreover, the questions we ask pave the way for the development of social awareness.
1. What can I do to reduce my individual water footprint, protect nature, and manage water consumption correctly?
2. Are the legal regulations protecting water resources working?
3. Are our food or energy resources safe or are they being consumed unconsciously?
4. Where are the water usage errors in the operations or supply chain of the company / institution I work for?
The amount of water used directly or indirectly can be determined with “water footprint” measurements. The water footprint is measured per ton in production, per hectare in agriculture, and in some sectors per cubic meter. Since the water spent, polluted, and wasted throughout the entire production/consumption cycle from the supply chain to the end user can be measured, it is also possible to save. It is possible to measure and regulate the amount of water required to produce all goods and services consumed by individuals, communities, nations, or all of humanity.
The human population is increasing rapidly and exponentially. However, the United Nations warns us that water use is increasing at twice the rate of population growth. If the dizzying trend in water use is not reversed, two-thirds of the planet's population will face "water stress" by 2025. The fight against water scarcity and water pollution is only possible with a "water management-saving" that will be carried out jointly by all stakeholders in society.
The calculation of the water footprint, which is divided into two as indirect and direct, reveals the water consumption consumed in cubic meters. Today, individual - family consumption calculations are easily made with the "Water Footprint Test". When calculating your individual / domestic water consumption, you should consider the main information about consumption, food and all expenses. When the number of people in the house, monthly drinking water consumption, monthly red meat consumption frequency, tea and coffee consumption amount, pets in your house, how many times you wash your vehicle per month, laundry frequency, and even the average water consumption in the city you live in are taken into account, the domestic water footprint can be determined.
Since water is used in the production of indirect water consumption, i.e. every product / service you buy, many different parameters are included in the water footprint calculations, such as cosmetic shopping, clothing, and fuel usage.
Parameters and calculation methods are more complex for businesses and institutions. Activities in the production process, different components in the raw material and service supply process are evaluated.
We have a few simple suggestions to help you save water to reduce your individual-domestic water footprint;
1. Do not leave the tap running for no reason. For example, turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
2. Do not rinse the dishes before putting them in the machine.
3. Have the taps repaired at home, and renew the plumbing.
4. Shorten the shower time.
5. Reduce textile and food expenses.
6. Do not use the pre-wash program in the machine for laundry. Remember that a washing machine uses approximately 176 liters of water. You can save 10 tons of water per year by running your machine less than once a week.
7. Reduce the number of car washes.
8. Take care to reduce the consumption of other resources such as natural gas and electricity.
9. Avoid actions that cause water pollution, such as using too much detergent and chemicals.
The reason for our existence is water. They say water is life, and it is true. Every drop we drink is essential for life. According to scientists, a person can survive without water for a maximum of 7 days. Every food we eat, even every product produced, is created by water and the processing of water. Water is of vital importance in any sector, in processes such as product production and waste management. From the sweater we wear to the parts of the household appliances we use… water is an indispensable concept in agriculture, technology and industry. The term ‘water footprint’ will increasingly gain importance in order to protect our water resources, use our existing water economically and cope with the climate crisis.