What is the definition of a water footprint?
he water footprint assesses water use along the life cycle of products.
What percentage of global water reserves is freshwater?
Only 1%.
What are some consequences of water scarcity?
Malnutrition, infectious diseases, ecosystem damage, and rapid population demand growth.
What is sustainable water management?
Use of freshwater to meet needs without compromising future generations’ ability to do so.
What components are essential in sustainable water management?
Drinking water preparation, water distribution, sewage networks, sewage processing, and awareness of water use impacts.
What is water use versus water consumption?
Water use refers to total freshwater input; water consumption is water "lost" through evaporation or product integration.
What is a national water footprint?
The total water used to produce goods/services consumed by a nation's population, including internal and external components.
What are the types of water in virtual water content?
Green (soil moisture), Blue (ground/surface water), and Grey (polluted freshwater).
What is the significance of ISO 14046?
It specifies principles, requirements, and guidelines for water footprint assessments in LCA.
What factors are considered in water footprint inventory data?
Water quantities, types, quality parameters, location, temporal aspects, and emissions impacting water quality.
What is a 'Water Footprint' according to the WFN?
Amount of virtual water consumed along a product’s life cycle; includes geographic info of water consumption.
What are the three types of water consumption included in water footprints?
Blue water (surface/groundwater), green water (soil moisture), grey water (pollution dilution).
What critical points are noted for green water consumption?
Compared to natural land evapotranspiration (net green water footprint).
Controversial relevance; not available for ecosystems/humans.
What are the main challenges in analyzing water use in LCA?
Developed in regions without major water scarcity.
Complex due to water's global cycle.
Requires various parameters (local scarcity, type, quality, wealth).
What is the purpose of water inventories in LCA?
To list all water input and output flows of a product system; all flows are volumetric.
What factors must be considered for impact assessment of water use?
Local water scarcity.
Type of water (ground, surface, soil moisture).
Water quality.
Economic conditions of the country.
What is the 'Withdrawal-to-Availability' (WTA) ratio?
A measure indicating water scarcity; annual water use relative to renewable supply in a region.
What does the WAVE method account for in water evaluation?
Water consumption to availability (CTA).
Recycling of atmospheric and water vapor, evaporation factors.
What question is central to the AWARE method?
"What is the potential to deprive another freshwater user (human or ecosystem) by consuming water in this region?"
How do water and carbon footprints differ?
Water footprint: local, considers full supply chain, focuses on reduction.
Carbon footprint: global, average-based, supply chain partially considered, focuses on offsetting.
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