What is happening on the planet? A glance at water wise practices and usage worldwide

Statistics

• Americans constitute 5% of the world's population but consume 24% of the world's energy. On average, one American consumes as much energy as 2 Japanese, 6 Mexicans, 13 Chinese, 31 Indians, 128 Bangladeshis, 307 Tanzanians, or 370 Ethiopians.
• The global water footprint in the period 1996-2005 was 9087 Gm/yr (74% green, 11% blue,   15% grey). Agricultural production contributes 92% to this total footprint.
• Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the water footprint of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The contribution of different consumption categories to the total water footprint varies across countries.

• “All countries trade water-intensive commodities, but few governments explicitly consider options to save water through import of water-intensive products or to make use of relative water abundance to produce water-intensive commodities for export. In addition, by looking at water use within only their own country, governments do not have a comprehensive view of the sustainability of national consumption. Many countries have significantly externalized their water footprint without looking at whether the imported products are related to water depletion or pollution in the producing countries” (National Water Accounts, 7). 

• China, India and the US are the countries with the largest total water footprints within their territory. About 38% of the water footprint of global production lies within these three countries.

• China and the US have the largest water footprints in their territory related to industrial production; 22% of the global water footprint related to industrial production lies in China and 18% in the US.
• The largest share of the international virtual water flows relates to trade in oil crops (including cotton, soybean, oil palm, sunflower, rapeseed and others) and derived products. This category accounts for 43% of the total sum of international virtual water flows
• SOURCE USED: http://www.waterfootprint.org/Reports/Report50-NationalWaterFootprints-Vol1.pdf
• 36 US states are anticipating water shortages by 2013.

Tips/How other countries are conserving

• In terms of blue water saved, Mexico, Spain, Japan, the UK and a number of countries in the Middle East come on top of the list
• Among the animal products, international trade in poultry products (25 Gm3/yr), dairy products (16 Gm3/yr), bovine products (16 Gm3/yr) and pig products (2 Gm3/yr) result in significant global water savings, but trade flows in horse, sheep and goat products are accompanied with a total global water loss of 3 Gm3/yr.
• The water footprint of consumption in a country depends on two factors: what and how much do consumers consume and what are the water footprints of the commodities consumed. The latter depends on the production circumstances in the places of origin of the various commodities.
• Water-scarce countries can reduce the pressure on their domestic water resources by making sure that cheap water-intensive products are imported and only water-extensive high-value commodities are exported. Example: importing grains in the Middle East resolves water shortages in this region. International trade can enhance global water use efficiency when water-intensive production processes are concentrated in places where water is abundant and water productivity high. Today, however, the value of water is seldom translated into a price, so that regional differences in water scarcity hardly affect the international trade flow pattern.
• International trade in water-intensive goods like food, cotton and paper means that the demand for water is shifted from the place of consumption to the place of production. Many countries, like most European countries, have thus largely externalized their water footprint. Consumers do not cover the environmental and social costs that are often associated with the use and pollution of water in the exporting regions. The international character of supply chains makes that sustainable use of freshwater resources has a global dimension. Another reason for a global perspective is the issue of equitable use of our limited global freshwater resources. Some countries have a water footprint that is double the global average water footprint.
• SOURCE: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/GlobalWaterFootprint