Hi. I'm currently studying on water footprint assessment. Is there any research papers that I can refer which integrating framework of Water Footprint Network and Water-focused Life Cycle Assessment? Thus, I need help in this water footprint field.
Thank you in advance.
Organizational water footprint: a methodological guidance by Silvia Forin1 & Natalia Mikosch1 & Markus Berger1 & Matthias Finkbeiner1
can be usefull
It has indeed become inevitable considering the depleting water resources across the globe. It is the appropriation of fresh water consumed either individually, industrial or agricultural activities. The need was not so much in the earlier times as every one of us took it for granted that there is plenty. The footprint calculations depend upon the nature of activity – per unit of production / per hectare or for that matter per unit of currency. The implications become much more serious depending upon the source especially, it is water scarce. Green water foot print is applicable to plants which absorb water, transpires and emits into atmosphere; Blue water footprint is from either surface or groundwater and grey water footprint is the quantity required to assimilate pollutants to meet standards.
There have been technological innovations to minimize water consumption as well. Therefore, one has to consider them wherever applicable, as well for an accurate calculation. For example, the ‘Smart taps’ indicate water consumptions from each of the taps over the day automatically.
In any specific case – one may consider combining domestic consumption (employees) and industrial consumption to appropriate strategies for conservation.
It is important to distinguish between these two methodologies. They are targeted on the little bit different audience/users and it means that for some applications is volumetric water footprint more suitable than impact-oriented water footprint based on LCA. And conversely. There is a lot of literature where representatives of both communities criticise the second methodology or try to find synergies between these two methodologies. Unfortunately, there are also several articles where authors did not distinguish between these two methodologies and create incorrect conclusions. See for example this my article Article Water Footprint: Two Different Methodologies - A Response to...
Great description of interaction both methodologies can be found in Article Building consensus on water use assessment of livestock prod...
Dear Siti,
Probably you can find one or two ideas that may answer your question in the recently published paper by Davy Vanham and Mesfin Mekonnen (experts in the subjet).
Article The scarcity-weighted water footprint provides unreliable wa...
Best wishes,
Santiago
Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I really appreciate this.
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