21st May, 2007

Australia’s global water footprint may not be among the world’s highest but our domestic consumption of water is, according to a study published earlier this year.

The study Water footprints of nations: Water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern by international water experts A.Y. Hoekstra and A.K. Chapagain shows looked at the water calculated the global water footprints of 21 nations based on their use of water in households, agriculture and industry.

Countries with the highest water use per capita include the United States (2,483 cubic metres per person per year), Thailand (2,223), and Italy (2,332) while those among the lowest include China (702) as well as nations like Ethiopia, Somalia and Peru.

Australia’s global water footprint came in at 1,393 cubic metres per person per annum, just above the global average of 1,243.

But the figures show that of the 21 nations which had its water consumption was detailed in the study, our domestic water consumption (at 341 cubic metres per person per year) was the highest with only that of Canada (at 279) coming close.

The study, which was published in the Water Resources Management journal in January,  also produced a table showing the amount of water taken to produce everyday products such as a 250 ml glass of beer (75 litres), a 200 ml glass of milk (200 litres), a cotton T-shirt (2,000 litres) and a pair of leather shoes (8,000 litres).

~ www.waterfootprint.org

- DAVID ADAMS