The Virtual Water Footprint of Denmark: An Application of the Water Footprint Methodology
Authors
Bidstrup, Morten ; Ramsheva, Yana
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2012
Submitted on
2012-06-01
Pages
70
Abstract
Rent ferskvand er en værdifuld ressource, men det er under pres på grund af stigende forbrug og forurening. Dette studie undersøger, om vurderinger af vandfodaftryk kan give ny viden til dansk vandforvaltning og dermed bane vej for en mere helhedsorienteret tilgang. Studiet giver et bredere perspektiv på, hvordan danske aktiviteter bruger og forurener vand. Metoden opdeler vandforbrug i tre kategorier: blåt vand (vand, der tages fra søer, vandløb og grundvand), grønt vand (regnvand lagret i jorden, som planter optager), og gråt vand (den mængde vand, der skal til for at fortynde forurening til acceptable niveauer). Begrebet “fodaftryk” betyder, at produkter tillægges et volumen af “virtuelt vand” – den samlede mængde vand, der er brugt og forurenet gennem hele produktionskæden. Tilgangen ændrer perspektivet ved at knytte vandforbrug både til forbrugeren (det direkte vandfodaftryk) og til producenten gennem handel (det virtuelle vandfodaftryk). Undersøgelsen er udelukkende på nationalt niveau og omfatter husholdninger, offentlige institutioner, landbrug og industri. Det virtuelle vand knyttes til handlen med 377 landbrugsprodukter, og for industrivarer beregnes det vandforbrug, der er forbundet med importen, for de 55 lande, som står for 98% af alle danske importer. Det danske vandfodaftryk er 35% højere end verdensgennemsnittet og har været forholdsvis stabilt de seneste 20 år, selv om det direkte indenlandske vandfodaftryk er reduceret betydeligt. Det virtuelle vandfodaftryk er 14% lavere end det direkte på grund af eksport af animalske produkter; der eksporteres virtuelt vand svarende til næsten to tredjedele af alt vand, der bruges i Danmark. For en gennemsnitlig dansker stiger det faktiske blå vandforbrug fra 123 liter pr. dag til 480 liter pr. dag, når man anvender vandfodaftryksmetoden og medregner vandet indlejret i varer. Vandet bag den daglige kaffe overstiger alt vand brugt til bad, rengøring, madlavning og drikke, og man kan påvirke sit personlige vandfodaftryk ved at træffe klogere produktvalg. Studiet bygger på velafprøvede og veldokumenterede principper, men er helt nyt i dansk sammenhæng. Det åbner for videre forskning, og hovedkonklusionen er, at vandfodaftryksmetoden kan give ny viden til dansk vandforvaltning.
Clean freshwater is a valuable resource, but it is under pressure from rising consumption and pollution. This study tests whether water footprint assessments can provide new insights for Danish water management and pave the way for a more holistic approach. It offers a broader view of how Danish activities use and pollute water. The method divides water use into three categories: blue water (water taken from rivers, lakes, and groundwater), green water (rainwater stored in soil and used by plants), and grey water (the amount of water needed to dilute pollution to acceptable levels). The “footprint” concept assigns each product a volume of “virtual water,” meaning all the water used and polluted across its supply chain. This represents a shift in perspective by attributing water use to both consumers (the direct water footprint) and producers through trade (the virtual water footprint). The analysis is conducted at the national level and includes households, public institutions, agriculture, and industry. Virtual water is linked to trade in 377 agricultural products, and for industrial goods the water embodied in imports is calculated for the 55 countries that account for 98% of all Danish imports. Denmark’s water footprint is 35% higher than the world average and has remained fairly constant over the past 20 years, despite significant reductions in the direct domestic footprint. The virtual water footprint is 14% lower than the direct footprint due to exports of animal products; these exports represent virtual water equal to almost two-thirds of all water used in Denmark. For an average Dane, measured blue water use rises from 123 liters per day to 480 liters per day when the water footprint method is applied and the water embedded in goods is included. The water behind daily coffee consumption exceeds all water used for bathing, cleaning, cooking, and drinking, and individuals can influence their personal water footprint by making smarter product choices. The study builds on well-tested and well-documented principles, but it is entirely new in a Danish context. It opens the door to further research, and the main conclusion is that the water footprint method can provide new knowledge for Danish water management.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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