The Water Footprint of an Individual

E-ISSN： 2329-1559|10|3|13-25

ISSN： 2329-1621

Source： The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Vol.10, Iss.3, 2015-01, pp. : 13-25

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Abstract

Sustainable development can be seen as a concept, a discourse, a principle, or a metaphor that represents the alignment of action with long-term objectives of social activities, with minimal negative consequences for future generations in relation to the disposal of environmental capital and other sustainability potentials. In this context, we are talking about sustainability as a positive practice towards the environment. This paper addresses the problem of hidden total water consumption in the framework of the modern consumer, hygiene, and dietary habits of the respondents at the household and individual level. It presents an empirical analysis of water footprint values of an average respondent. Water footprint is one of the newer concepts that are used to calculate the total direct (water consumed directly by showering, drinking, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) and indirect consumption (consumption of water that is used for the production of goods and which the consumer indirectly consumes by consuming a product) of water per individual per unit of time expressed in liters of water. The authors of the paper introduces the level of sustainability of the water footprint in order to meet the basic research question - to what extent is an average water footprint of an individual in the sample sustainable?