Water Footprint Color

Just like the carbon footprint, water use also has a footprint. It is possible to see the water footprint in every area, from small-scale domestic consumption to large-scale water consumption in production processes. Water is needed for the production of electronic goods in homes, clothes worn, vehicles used, and food products consumed.

According to data announced by the World Health Organization, approximately 25 liters of water are consumed for every minute during a shower. According to global benchmarking studies conducted by Arjen Hoekstra and Mesfin Mekonnen, each individual consumes an average of 1,385 cubic meters of water per year.

Especially considering that water resources are decreasing due to climate change and population growth, the importance of having awareness about the rational use of water increases even more. It is possible to reduce the water footprint through measures to be taken on both corporate and individual scales. Let's look together at the answers to questions such as "What is a water footprint?" and "What do water footprint colors mean?".

What is a Water Footprint?

In 2002, while working at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Arjen Hoekstra developed a metric to measure the amount of water consumed and polluted to produce goods and services throughout the entire supply chain, defining this metric as the water footprint. By 2008, due to the increasing interest of industrial sectors in the water footprint, he founded the Water Footprint Network together with leading figures from business, government, and academia.

A water footprint is an environmental indicator that measures the volume of freshwater needed to produce goods and services. It enables the determination of the magnitude of the impact created by human activities and the acquisition of objective data. It is among the most comprehensive indicators measuring water consumption, meaning water use and pollution caused by human activities. The water footprint assesses direct and indirect water consumption occurring in production processes.

Direct Water Footprint: Refers to the water consumption of a consumer or producer and the pollution value associated with that water consumption.

Indirect Water Footprint: Indirect water footprint refers to the water use required for the production of consumer goods and the pollution related to this use.

For example, water used while cooking indicates the direct water footprint, whereas water consumed in processes such as the production and transport of the ingredients of the prepared meal (meat, flour, vegetables, etc.) shows the indirect water footprint.

What Does the Water Footprint Color Mean?

In the Water Footprint Network, there are 3 different water footprint colors depending on where the water comes from:

Green Water Footprint

It is water coming from rain or snow, temporarily stored on the soil surface or in vegetation. The green water footprint calculates the volume of water used in agricultural, horticultural, and forestry products. Also referred to as "precipitation-sourced water," the green water footprint shows the amount of water stored in the soil that does not mix with groundwater.

The formula for the green water footprint, shown as volume/time, is as follows:

Evaporated Green Water + Green Water Incorporated into the Product = Green Water Footprint

Blue Water Footprint

It is water obtained from surface or groundwater resources, evaporated, incorporated into a product, or discharged into the sea. Irrigated agricultural consumption, industrial consumption, and domestic water use are included in the blue water footprint. For irrigated agriculture, the total evaporation rate, water used by crop products, and the amount of water obtained through drainage show the blue water footprint.

The formula for the blue water footprint, shown as volume/time, is as follows:

Evaporated Blue Water + Blue Water Incorporated into the Product + Drainage Volume = Blue Water Footprint

Grey Water Footprint

Refers to the volume of freshwater required to dilute water polluted as a result of production processes until it reaches a concentration below the maximum concentration allowed by current regulations.

The formula for the grey water footprint, reached as volume/time, is as follows:

Pollutant Load / (Maximum Concentration of the Receiving Water Body – Natural Concentration of the Receiving Water Body) = Grey Water Footprint

The water footprint can also be classified by companies, countries, and individuals. For example, a company's activities, such as the production of goods and services, constitute that company's water footprint. Water consumption arising from the individuals, industry, and agricultural activities of a country represents that country's water footprint. Meanwhile, the water footprint of individuals shows the combined footprint of all products consumed.

How is the Water Footprint Calculated?

Results provided by mathematical formulas that can be applied to all situations to determine the water footprint of an individual consumer, good, service, or a specific geographic area are generally approximate. It can be extremely difficult to access precise information, especially for a clear calculation of the individual footprint. Depending on the calculation to be made and the sector of activity, the most frequently referred-to standard during calculation is the ISO 14046 Standard.

ISO 14046 Standard

This methodology is used to assess the impact a product, packaging, or process has throughout its entire life cycle. The ISO 14046 Standard Methodology is divided into four phases:

• Goal and scope definition,

• Water footprint inventory analysis,

• Water footprint impact assessment,

• Interpretation of results.

This standard, which enables the detection of areas where water savings should be made, can ensure that the necessary measures are taken to avoid future risks. The obtained data can help reduce and control water-related environmental impacts. Brand reputation can be strengthened by reducing negative impacts on the environment while continuing to meet customer and investor demands.

The Impact of Products and Countries on the Water Footprint

According to the report prepared by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the amount of water consumed per 1 kilogram of some food products is as follows:

• Chocolate: 17,196 liters

• Beef: 15,415 liters

• Sheep Meat: 10,412 liters

• Pork: 5,988 liters

• Butter: 5,553 liters

The effects of climate change are altering where and how precipitation falls. Furthermore, as our global water use exceeds safe boundaries, the water crisis is increasing globally. The list of countries consuming the most water worldwide, according to billion metric tons of water consumed in 1 year, is as follows:

• India: 987.38

• China: 883.39

• USA: 696.01

• Russia: 270.98

• Indonesia: 269.96

• Brazil: 233.59

Turkey's total water footprint is approximately 140 billion cubic meters per year. In Turkey, 89% of the water footprint originates from the agricultural sector, 7% from domestic water use, and 4% from industrial water consumption. Approximately 66% of the water used in crop production, which is a component of the agricultural sector, is provided by green water. Blue and green water footprints are concerned in the measurement of agricultural water footprint. For urban and industrial footprints, the focus is on the grey water footprint.

In Turkey, the ratio of urban water footprint to grey water footprint is 87%. For the industrial water footprint, this ratio is 92%. In Turkey, where population growth is so intense, such high impact rates on the grey water footprint also threaten future water quality.

Global Effects of the Water Footprint

Increasing world population, changing consumption patterns, developing standards of living, and irrigated agricultural activities increase the demand for water. Actually, it is possible to meet the demand for water that the Earth needs on an annual basis. However, the fact that the availability of water varies according to time and place causes water scarcity to be experienced in various regions of the Earth during certain periods, and the scale of this scarcity is not small at all.

Reaching freshwater, which is necessary for human survival and is above all a fundamental human right, is becoming difficult because the Earth's freshwater resources are running out. Bank of America Global Research's 2023 report states that the World's freshwater resources could run out by 2040 at the current rate of consumption.

Some important data regarding water scarcity announced by UNICEF is as follows:

• Two-thirds of the world's population, meaning approximately 4 billion people, experience severe water scarcity during certain periods of the year.

• The number of people living in countries where water supply is inadequate is approximately 2 billion.

• By 2025, approximately half of the world's population may live in areas with limited access to water.

• By 2030, approximately 700 million people may be forced to migrate due to limited access to water.

• In 2040, approximately 25% of the child population may be living in areas where access to water resources is difficult.

Bringing water consumption under control at corporate and individual scales can help leave clean water resources for future generations. Water conservation technologies, international agreements, and government policies must be encouraging for bringing water consumption under control.

What Can Be Done to Reduce the Water Footprint?

A series of habits that individual consumers can develop in their daily lives can help reduce the individual water footprint. Some of these habits are:

How to Reduce the Individual Water Footprint?

• Shower durations can be shortened to reduce the amount of water used during a shower. The faucet can be turned off while soaping hands and face, brushing teeth, or shaving. In addition, eco-friendly faucets and showerheads that can regulate water flow can be used. While traditional faucets provide a water flow of approximately 19 liters per minute, low-pressure faucets provide a water flow of 5 liters per minute.

• The amount of water required to grow, process, and transport food is extremely high. Therefore, shopping from local producers can reduce the amount of water spent on logistical processes.

• Instead of buying new products, the lifespan of products can be extended. Recycled products can be used, or old products can be upcycled to replace products that need to be purchased.

• A bucket can be used instead of a hose when watering the garden or washing the car.

• A diet focused on vegetables and grains can be developed by limiting meat consumption.

• Since high amounts of water are used in sugar production, the individual water footprint can be reduced by reducing sugar consumption.

How to Reduce the Corporate Water Footprint?

• Environmental quality systems can be developed.

• Recycling, reuse, and circular economy principles can be adopted.

• Paper use can be limited, and support can be drawn from digital solutions.

• It is possible to work with suppliers who commit to reducing their water footprint.

• Training seminars can be organized and awareness campaigns can be conducted with the participation of all company employees.

• Rainwater harvesting centers and water treatment facilities can be established.

• Water consumption can be brought under control with innovative technologies such as smart monitoring methods.

Your Helper in Setting Sustainable Targets: QuickCarbon!

The water footprint is an environmental indicator that individuals and institutions must consider to contribute to a sustainable future. Thanks to this indicator, objective data can be obtained to determine the impact generated by human activities. In this respect, the water footprint also shares similarities with the carbon footprint. Corporations calculating both their water footprint and carbon footprint can facilitate taking steps towards this by focusing on the core of the problem. QuickCarbon offers a professional solution, especially for companies wishing to calculate their carbon footprint.

Our user-friendly QuickCarbon software makes it possible for you to perform calculations according to the ISO 14064-1:2018 Standard and the GHG Protocol. The obtained results are reported, and these reports can be downloaded in both Word and Excel formats, with different language options. If you also wish to get comprehensive information about our software and create a demo request, you can contact us.