Parallel session 8Global implications of a country’s water footprint - the

case of industrialized countries

Chairs: Manuela Helmecke

Section General Aspects of Water and Soil, German Environment AgencyDr. Markus Berger

Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technical University Berlin, Germany

Speakers

• Dr. Markus BergerChair of Sustainable Engineering, Technical University Berlin, Germany

• Prof. Dr. Anne-Marie BoulayInternational Reference Centre for Life Cycle of Products, Services and Systems, (CIRAIG), Canada

• Jonas BunsenChair of Sustainable Engineering, Technical University Berlin, Germany

• Dr. Masaharu MotoshitaNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan

2

How much water do we need every day?

3

125 L/p

10 L/p

1,020 L/L

15,415 L/kg

8,000 L/p

10,200 L/kg 6,000 L/d

127 L/d

Reference: Water Footprint Network (2020)Images: Dmitry-Fisher, Valery, Monticelllo , Pakorn Kumruen, Amphaiwan, Ian Andreiev, Bernd Schmidt, 2day929, Picsfive | Dreamstime.com

Virtual Water

Water consumed/polluted along supply chains of products, organization or nations:

• Blue water: ground and surface water

Blue water consumption: “Loss” of blue water from theoriginating river basin due to evapotranspiration,product integration or discharge in other basins or the sea

• Green water: rain water

Green water consumption: “Loss” of green waterdue to evapotranspiration of rainwater by plants

• Gray water: polluted blue water

Gray water footprint: water polluted by wastewater,measured by the volume of water required to dilutewastewater until quality standards are reached

4

marcelkessler on Pixabay

畅苏 on Pixabay

Jean-Pierre Pellissier on Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/de/users/marcelkessler-3217273/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4967467https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4967467https://pixabay.com/de/users/asmuSe-3280612/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1749508https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1749508https://pixabay.com/de/users/PellissierJP-785732/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1066859https://pixabay.com/de/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1066859

Is that a problem?

5

2,600 L/kg

10,200 L/kg

1,020 L/kg

125 L/kg

Images: Amphaiwan, M_Anna Khomulo, Valery, Ian Andreiev | Dreamstime.com; marcelkessler | Pixabay

Discussion

• How well can the findings on the water footprint be linked to sectors/ value chains?

6

Discussion

• Which conclusions can you draw for potential improvements (quality/ quantity)?

7

Discussion

• What would you recommend to decision-makers and/or enterprises?

8

Thanks a lot for your attention!