Sustainable development blog : ecology and humanitarian aid

It’s Blog Action Day 2010 and with a theme of water, perhaps a good place to start would be in determining your water footprint.

Picture: Manitoba Water Stewardship

According to Water Footprint Network: “The water footprint is an indicator of water use that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer.” Here is the water footprint for a few common items: Hamburger – 2400 litres (mainly to raise the beef – it takes around 15,500 litres of water to produce a kg. of beef). Glass of beer – 75 litres (mainly for barley production). Bag of potato chips – 185 litres. The average Canadian’s water footprint is 2049 m³ per year. You can determine yours by using the online water footprint calculator at Water Footprint Network’s website.

I did, and am proud to say that my own water footprint was considerably less than the average Canadian at 1496 m³. My biggest water-consuming component was food (meat being the largest source) followed by industrial because of the products that I own or purchase. It could still be better though.

So here’s my water tip of the day: Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl of water rather than under a running tap. Then pour that water into the watering can or water barrel outside to water your plants. My goal is to repeat the calculator next year and see an improvement.

What about you?