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The water footprint of humanity

Arjen Y. Hoekstra and Mesfin M. Mekonnen
PNAS published ahead of print February 13, 2012 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1109936109
Arjen Y. Hoekstra
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Mesfin M. Mekonnen
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  1. Edited by Peter H. Gleick, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, Oakland, CA, and approved December 21, 2011 (received for review June 20, 2011)

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Abstract

This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global annual average WF in the period 1996–2005 was 9,087 Gm3/y (74% green, 11% blue, 15% gray). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one-fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2,320 Gm3/y (68% green, 13% blue, 19% gray). The WF of the global average consumer was 1,385 m3/y. The average consumer in the United States has a WF of 2,842 m3/y, whereas the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m3/y, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere.

  • globalization
  • sustainable consumption
  • virtual water trade
  • water pollution

Footnotes

  • ↵1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: a.y.hoekstra{at}utwente.nl.
  • Author contributions: A.Y.H. and M.M.M. designed research, performed research, analyzed data, and wrote the paper.

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  • This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.

  • This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1109936109/-/DCSupplemental.

Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.

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The water footprint of humanity
Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Mesfin M. Mekonnen
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Feb 2012, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109936109

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The water footprint of humanity
Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Mesfin M. Mekonnen
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Feb 2012, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109936109
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