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CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGCONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

3 Committees3 Committees

Water Resources and UsesWater Resources and UsesBackgroundBackgroundConclusionsConclusionsRecommendationsRecommendations

Committee of Environmental and Public Committee of Environmental and Public Works Works

Barbara Boxer, ChairmanBarbara Boxer, Chairman

Committee of Natural Resources Committee of Natural Resources JeffJeff BingamanBingaman, chairman., chairman.

Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition and Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Forestry

Tom Tom HarkinHarkin, Chairman., Chairman.

““ Agriculture begins where Agriculture begins where crops are grown, livestock are crops are grown, livestock are raised, and fiber crops such as raised, and fiber crops such as cotton are harvested and cotton are harvested and prepared for what will become prepared for what will become your next meal, or your new your next meal, or your new shirt or jeansshirt or jeans””

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PROBLEMPROBLEM

Value of goods does not include the Value of goods does not include the real cost of water nor the real cost of water nor the environmental consequences.environmental consequences.

Information is not easy to understand Information is not easy to understand and not all is peerand not all is peer--reviewed.reviewed.

PURPOSEPURPOSE

Consider water policies according to Consider water policies according to the the ““realreal”” water value for the wellwater value for the well--being being of the world.of the world.

Educate people with scientific bases Educate people with scientific bases and clear information to create and clear information to create awareness.awareness.

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Virtual Water ConceptVirtual Water ConceptWater Footprint ConceptWater Footprint ConceptNational Water FootprintsNational Water Footprints

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Virtual Water ConceptVirtual Water Concept

It is the It is the ““hiddenhidden”” or or ““embodiedembodied”” value value in each product. in each product.

ExampleExample

A glass of milk. A glass of milk. Content:Content:

ExampleExample

A glass of milk. A glass of milk. Content:Content:Water Water 87.3%87.3%Milk fats Milk fats 3.9%3.9%NonNon--fat Solids 8.8%fat Solids 8.8%

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ExampleExample

A glass of milk.A glass of milk.

Water Water 87.3%87.3%Milk fats Milk fats 3.9%3.9%NonNon--fat Solids 8.8%fat Solids 8.8%

Virtual Water ConceptVirtual Water Concept

1 glass of milk =1 glass of milk =

==

Virtual Water ConceptVirtual Water Concept

1 glass of milk = 1000 glasses of water1 glass of milk = 1000 glasses of water

==

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ConceptConcept

1 glass of milk = 1000 glasses of water1 glass of milk = 1000 glasses of water

Other examplesOther examples

Virtual Water for BeefVirtual Water for Beef

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Virtual Water for BeefVirtual Water for Beef

Type of operations Type of operations

Sanitation, animal wasteSanitation, animal waste--disposal disposal systems, and incidental water lossessystems, and incidental water losses

Washing, watering facilities, animals and Washing, watering facilities, animals and products. products.

BeefBeef

FeedingFeeding

BeefBeef

FeedingFeeding

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BeefBeef

Diet formulationDiet formulation

BeefBeef

Drinking waterDrinking water

Total Water FootprintTotal Water Footprint

Virtual Water to produce a Kg of meat Virtual Water to produce a Kg of meat is 10,000 L to 16,000 L in Average over is 10,000 L to 16,000 L in Average over the world.the world.

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Water Footprint ConceptWater Footprint Concept

A tool to estimate the virtual value of A tool to estimate the virtual value of water in relation to consumption of water in relation to consumption of people of the country.people of the country.

The results can help to:The results can help to:Promote better trade of goods/products Promote better trade of goods/products that require less or more water according that require less or more water according to the availability of water in countries.to the availability of water in countries.

The global average is ~3,500 L/person/day

ChinaChina2,0002,000U.S 7,000U.S 7,000 Japan Japan

3,2003,200India India 2,6842,684

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Consumption rates and volumesConsumption rates and volumesIndustrialIndustrialDomesticDomesticAgricultureAgriculture

Consumption pattern (diet)Consumption pattern (diet)

Climate (growth conditions)Climate (growth conditions)

Management systems (water use Management systems (water use efficiency)efficiency)

Major Factors Major Factors

Major FactorsMajor Factors

US 300 MillionUS 300 MillionChina and India 1.3 China and India 1.3 -- 1.2 Billion1.2 BillionJapan 130 MillionJapan 130 Million

U.S. and World Population Clocks U.S. and World Population Clocks ––POPClocksPOPClocks

National Water FootprintsNational Water Footprints

Footprints that falls inside the country Footprints that falls inside the country called internal footprints called internal footprints (domestic water resources)(domestic water resources)

Footprints that presses on other Footprints that presses on other countries in called external footprintscountries in called external footprints(foreign water resources)(foreign water resources)

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Water Footprints TradeWater Footprints Trade

JAPANJAPAN

65% 65%

35%35%

U.S.U.S.

18% 18%

82%82%

CHINACHINA7% 7%

93%93%

EXTERNALEXTERNALINTERNALINTERNAL

80% are Agricultural Footprints80% are Agricultural Footprints

% of Water Exported/Imported % of Water Exported/Imported % of Water Exported/Imported % OF WATER EXPORTED% OF WATER EXPORTED% OF WATER EXPORTED

222222

9997.57.57.5

777

555444

USUSCanadaCanadaFranceFranceAustralia, China, Germany, BrazilAustralia, China, Germany, BrazilNetherlands, Argentina, RussiaNetherlands, Argentina, RussiaThailand, India, BelgiumThailand, India, Belgium

% of Water Exported/Imported % of Water Exported/Imported % of Water Exported/Imported % OF WATER IMPORTED % OF WATER IMPORTED % OF WATER IMPORTED

1717

10108.68.6

77

66

553.53.5 USUS

Germany, JapanGermany, JapanItalyItalyFrance, NetherlandsFrance, NetherlandsUK, ChinaUK, ChinaMexico, BelgiumMexico, BelgiumRussia, Spain, Korea Rep. CanadaIndonesia

Russia, Spain, Korea Rep. CanadaIndonesia

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% of Water Exported/Imported % of Water Exported/Imported % of Water Exported/Imported % OF WATER EXPORTED% OF WATER EXPORTED% OF WATER EXPORTED

222222

9997.57.57.5

777

555444

USUSCanadaCanadaFranceFranceAustralia, China, Germany, BrasilAustralia, China, Germany, BrasilNetherlands, Argentina, RussiaNetherlands, Argentina, RussiaThailand, India, BelgiumThailand, India, Belgium

% OF WATER IMPORTED % OF WATER IMPORTED % OF WATER IMPORTED

1717

10108.68.6

77

66

553.53.5 US US

Germany, JapanGermany, JapanItalyItalyFrance, NetherlandsFrance, NetherlandsUK, ChinaUK, ChinaMexico, BelgiumMexico, BelgiumRussia, Spain, Korea Rep. CanadaIndonesia

Russia, Spain, Korea Rep. CanadaIndonesia

Cotton ConsumptionCotton Consumption

Chapagain Chapagain et al. 2006et al. 2006

Crop ProductionCrop Production

Volume of water / tons of crop yield.Volume of water / tons of crop yield.•• Effective rainfall +Irrigation water (using FAO) Effective rainfall +Irrigation water (using FAO) •• To estimate the most appropriate climatic To estimate the most appropriate climatic

stations and irrigation requirements per country.stations and irrigation requirements per country.

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Cotton ConsumptionCotton ConsumptionRainfall + Irrigation / tons of crop yieldRainfall + Irrigation / tons of crop yield

•• 99 99 + 99.4 Trillion L / 54.4 Million tons =+ 99.4 Trillion L / 54.4 Million tons =3,644,113 L / Ton of cotton seed3,644,113 L / Ton of cotton seed

Cotton ConsumptionCotton ConsumptionRainfall + Irrigation / tons of crop yieldRainfall + Irrigation / tons of crop yield

•• 99 99 + 99.4 Trillion L / 54.4 Million tons =+ 99.4 Trillion L / 54.4 Million tons =3,644,113 L / Ton of cotton seed3,644,113 L / Ton of cotton seed

3,644 L / Kg of cotton seed3,644 L / Kg of cotton seed

Processing of cotton Processing of cotton productsproducts

Kg of primary crop needed to produce 1 kg Kg of primary crop needed to produce 1 kg of product neededof product needed

+ Water needed per kg in bleaching (30 + Water needed per kg in bleaching (30 L)+ dying(140 L) + printing (190 L) + L)+ dying(140 L) + printing (190 L) + finishing (140 L).finishing (140 L).

•• + 500 L / kg of cotton products+ 500 L / kg of cotton products

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Other considerationsOther considerations

+ the volumes of nutrients (N, P) + + the volumes of nutrients (N, P) + pesticides that leach out of the plant pesticides that leach out of the plant root zone.root zone.60% of these goes to the crop and 40% 60% of these goes to the crop and 40% goes to groundwater.goes to groundwater.Water needed to dilute pollution per Water needed to dilute pollution per production stage according to EPA production stage according to EPA standard recommendations.standard recommendations.

Other considerationsOther considerations

Total volume of domestic water + total Total volume of domestic water + total volume of external water used in the volume of external water used in the crop.crop.

1 pair of jeans 10,850 L1 pair of jeans 10,850 L

1 T1 T--shirt 9,750 Lshirt 9,750 L

Domestic and External Domestic and External FootprintsFootprints

48%48%

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Water withdrawals might be higher Water withdrawals might be higher because of the large quantity of because of the large quantity of products that are exported. products that are exported.

CONCLUSION (cont)CONCLUSION (cont)

Fresh water can be regulated wisely Fresh water can be regulated wisely among countries by promoting the among countries by promoting the import/export of goods according to import/export of goods according to the availability of water within the the availability of water within the country.country.

CONCLUSION (cont)CONCLUSION (cont)

Jordan for example, imports wheat and Jordan for example, imports wheat and other products that require large other products that require large quantities of water because of the quantities of water because of the scarcity of water in the country. scarcity of water in the country.

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RECOMENDATIONSRECOMENDATIONS

Scarcity and misuse from some Scarcity and misuse from some countries will unbalance abundance countries will unbalance abundance and availability of water resources in and availability of water resources in other countries.other countries.

Water is a worldwide topic that needs to be Water is a worldwide topic that needs to be consider as well as Carbon Dioxide and consider as well as Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouses that are being consider other greenhouses that are being consider internationally.internationally.

Water is the key for future negotiations Water is the key for future negotiations among countries.among countries.

Congress needs to work with countries Congress needs to work with countries to balance their water imports and to balance their water imports and exports through negotiations.exports through negotiations.

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Promoting scientific research that can Promoting scientific research that can explain easier to public what activities explain easier to public what activities use water efficiently.use water efficiently.

Help countries to negotiate and Help countries to negotiate and understand the concept of virtual water understand the concept of virtual water to benefit US and other countries when to benefit US and other countries when negotiating.negotiating.

OTHER RECOMENDATIONSOTHER RECOMENDATIONS

Countries need to use wisely the imports and Countries need to use wisely the imports and exports of water for their own sustainability exports of water for their own sustainability for the future.for the future.

Water footprints are affecting other countries Water footprints are affecting other countries and need to be regulated worldwideand need to be regulated worldwide

Demand and population growth increase Demand and population growth increase footprints worldwidefootprints worldwide