WATER FOOTPRINT, WHAT IS IT?

The water footprint is an environmental indicator that indicates or estimates the volume of fresh water used in the production of goods and services. In other words, it is a variable that allows us to know the amount of water that has been spent to manufacture a product, for example, a food. It is not the same as the carbon footprint!

For example, it is estimated that 4 liters of water are used to produce a 1-liter plastic bottle. Therefore, the water footprint of a plastic bottle is 4 liters of water.

The water footprint of a cup of coffee is 840 liters of water per cup, this figure takes into account all the water that has been consumed since the beginning of the coffee plantation until the coffee has been ready in your cup.

Theoretically, the water footprint also has to give us information on the location of water consumption, since the water consumption per product in a given place is calculated, although the question of location is not always taken into account or not translated. correctly.

The volume of water that has been consumed, evaporated or contaminated is measured and counted. It can be calculated per unit of product, of time for individuals, or per unit of mass. It can also be calculated for any group of consumers or producers: individuals, families, towns, cities, provinces, states, public organizations or private companies.

Its calculation is established in a modular way, that is, adding the needs for use and water consumption of each stage of production from the origin to the final consumer.

The water footprint can be classified, depending on the origin of the water, into 3 different types:

• Blue water footprint: Water used for the production of a product or service and that comes from surface or underground sources of fresh water.

• Green water footprint: Indicates the rain, snow or meltwater that is used for the manufacturing process of a product. It is calculated by observing the volume of rainwater that is incorporated into the production process.

• Gray water footprint: Indicates the level of contamination of fresh water derived from the entire production process and marketing of a product. Contaminated water in the manufacturing processes and that it is necessary to purify to return it to nature.