Measuring Environmental Impacts With the 'Water Footprint'

A Dutch hydrological engineer has developed a new way to measure the environmental impact of humans: the "water footprint".

1 minute read

August 28, 2009, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

Arjen Hoekstra developed the idea recently, which tracks how much water people use and how much water is used to create the foods and products they consume.

"His equation is actually just a couple of numbers used to describe the amount of water that is used -- or polluted -- during the manufacture of various products. Anyone can calculate their water footprint by looking at the amount of water they use directly and then by looking at the amount of "virtual water" they use -- that is, how much water is used in the production of any goods they consume. The global average for an individual's water footprint is 1,243 cubic meters of water per year. In the US, this goes up to 2,483 cubic meters per year; in Germany it's 1,545 and in China, 702."

FULL STORY: Measuring the Damage of our 'Water Footprint'

Thursday, August 27, 2009 in Der Spiegel

Environment World Water Agriculture Water Footprint

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.