By using water wisely, we can help protect the vital resource of water. In this way, we help prevent further drying out of dry areas of our land.
Our daily consumption affects the state of the world's water resources: each of us leaves a water footprint. Every day a person living in Germany uses an average of 3,900 liters of virtual water, since every product used also contains water for the production of goods. With these products, we also import water from regions that are already experiencing water shortages. Anyone who buys food from sustainable agriculture regionally and therefore seasonally makes a small contribution to reducing water pressure.
What is virtual water?
Whether it is milk, meat, chocolate, clothing or appliances - there is much more water in every product than it seems at first glance. Because water is not only contained in the goods themselves; large quantities are also needed to produce them. This water is called "virtual water". This concept dates back to British scientist John Anthony Allan.
There are three categories of virtual water:
Green virtual water represents natural irrigation, mainly from rainwater.
Blue virtual water is taken from underground reservoirs, rivers and lakes for use and is not returned in the future. This is used, for example, to irrigate agricultural areas.
Gray virtual water is water that is contaminated during the production of a product. This happens, for example, when fertilizers or pesticides from agriculture wash into groundwater. Before gray virtual water can be used again, it must be diluted to the point where the contamination reaches a safe level.
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