The Importance of Individual and Territorial Differences on Water Footprint Calculations

Abstract

The water footprint refers both direct and indirect water use in production process. Not only the water footprint of products, but also the water footprint of nations can be determined. The main factors which determine the Water Footprint (WF) of a country are gender (since water footprint values for different dietary habits are also different from each other) dietary habits and Gross National Product (GNP). In this study, Germany, France, United Kingdom (UK), Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Poland were selected considering their development level, their geographical and cultural features. The WF values of these selected countries were calculated based on sex, dietary habits and the annual amount of income via “Your Water Footprint Quick Calculator”. It was found that the country with the highest WF was Spain (3531 m³/year), while the country with the lowest WF was UK (1711 m³/year). It was calculated that Turkey’s WF was 1626 m³/year. In comparison of WF values determined for other countries in the study, it was found that Turkey has a mean WF value. Water footprint was determined 930 m³/year for equal consumption of vegetables, fruits and milk per week. Water footprint values for vegetable-based, fruit-based, milk-based and meat based dietary were respectively 944, 959, 1299 and 993 m3/year. The most important factors that change values of Turkey’s WF were the consumption of meat and dairy products. As a result, every country should be evaluated according to its own characteristics in study related to the determination of the water footprint of the countries.