A new report published by WWF in the UK highlights the impact of ‘virtual water’ use on diminishing global water supply, using the concept of a ‘Water Footprint’. According to the authors’ approach, a water footprint is a measure of the total water used to produce goods and services that a particular individual, business or nation uses. It is made up of both direct water use and indirect use. The indirect water use is measured as ‘virtual’ water (the volume of water required to produce a certain product). It includes use of blue water (rivers, lakes, aquifers), green water (rainfall in crop growth), and grey water (water polluted after agricultural, industrial and household use).

The report is published as: Chapagain, A. K. and S. Orr (2008) UK Water Footprint: the impact of the UK’s food and fibre consumption on global water resources. London: WWF.

Download the UK Water Footprint report here