Q & A

General Q&A

• Less than 3% of the world’s water is fresh – the rest is seawater and undrinkable. Of this 3% over 2.5% is frozen, locked up in Antarctica, the Arctic and glaciers, and not available to man. Thus humanity must rely on 0.5% for all of man’s and ecosystem’s fresh water needs.

• Already there is more waste water generated and dispersed today than at any other time in the history of our planet. More than one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water, namely 1.1 billion people, and more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6 billion people. 3900 children die every day from water borne diseases (WHO 2004). One must know that these figures represent only people with very poor conditions. In reality, these figures should be much higher.

• The world is not “running out water,” but it is not always available when and where people need it. Climate, normal seasonal variations, droughts and floods can all contribute to local extreme conditions. The essence is to use water wisely.

• Water is not distributed evenly over the globe. Fewer than10 countries possess 60% of the world’s available fresh water supply: Brazil, Russia, China, Canada, Indonesia, U.S., India, Columbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, local variations within countries can be highly significant.

• Water is essential to health 3,900 children die each day due to dirty water or poor hygiene. 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases Including cholera) the equivalent of 15 killer tsunamis each year or 12 Boeing 747 crashes every day.
  The UN recommendations call for a minimum of 50 litres of water a day per person for drinking, washing, cooking and sanitation.

• Water that, after exploitation, can return to their previous stock levels by natural process of growth or replenishment. They are rechargeable due to the hydrologic cycle unless they are overexploited. Often comprising groundwater aquifers and surface water like rivers and lakes. Between 2000 – 2025 the global average annual per capita of renewable water resources is projected to fall from 6,600 cubic metres to 4,800 cubic metres, hence innovations and concepts that contribute to sustainable water management and use are an imperative for present and future generations.

Water Neutral Q & A

• It is an indicator of water use that looks at both direct and indirect water use. The water footprint of a consumer is the sum of its direct water use (i.e. used at home, and/or in the garden) and indirect water use (i.e. water used in the production and supply chain of the goods and services consumed).

• The idea of the water-neutral (water offset) concept is to stimulate individuals and corporations that undertake water consuming or polluting activities to make their activity ‘water neutral’ by reducing water consumption and pollution and by compensating for the negative impacts of remaining water consumption and pollution through investing in projects that promote the sustainable and equitable use of water within the environment and community that is affected. Water consumption and pollution can be reduced for example by investing in water saving technology, water conservation measures and wastewater treatment. Compensation for negative impacts can be done for example by investing in improved watershed management or by supporting poor communities that do not have access to clean water to set up and maintain their own water supply systems (Hoekstra).

• In order to become ‘water neutral’ there are two requirements. First, all that is ‘reasonably possible’ should have been done to reduce the existing water footprint. Next, the residual water footprint is offset by making a ‘reasonable investment’ in establishing or supporting projects that aim at the sustainable and equitable use of water. The phrases between brackets (reasonably possible, reasonable investment) include normative element that need further specification and about which one needs to reach consensus. The investment can be made in real terms in the form of own effort, but it can also be in terms of providing funds to support projects run by others. The size of the investment (the offset or payoff price) should be a function of the vulnerability of the region where the (residual) water footprint is located. A certain water footprint in a water-scarce area or period is worse and thus requires a larger offset effort than the same size water footprint in a water-abundant region or period (Hoekstra).

• You may be water savvy at this stage that means using less per drop, however you may choose to balance/offset/replenish the water that you use as a socially responsible travel when visiting water scarce regions or by making a donation to projects that allow those without access to water to gain access.

• These impacts are related to the following, poor management of water in a particular watershed for example can result in other communities not being able to have access to water. Where an entity or municipality discharges untreated effluent into rivers within the watershed, the negative impact could be eutrophication.

• A process of pollution that occurs when a lake or stream becomes over-rich in plant nutrient, as a consequence it becomes overgrown in algae and other aquatic plants. The plants die and decompose. In decomposing the plants rob the water of oxygen and the lake, river, or stream becomes lifeless. Nitrate fertilizers which drain from the fields, nutrients from animal wastes and human sewage are the primary causes. (European Environment Agency)

• The projects are promoting water efficiency and better access. The Hippo - the Water Saver promotes water efficiency, the hippo is a simple, proven and low cost water saving device to help conserve water in toilet cisterns. Every time a toilet is flushed the Hippo saves approximately 3 litres of water. The PlayPump systems are innovative, sustainable, patented water supply pumps powered by children at play. Installed near schools, the PlayPump system doubles as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children

• Besides giving money, an individual or company can decide to reduce their footprints by adopting basic water saving techniques in the home or factory, such as having a timer for your shower, installing the hippo the water saver. Water neutral is not only about raising cash but a platform to educate, raise awareness and exchange innovative ideas on sustainable water management.

Trade and Business Q&A

• Water embedded in traded goods.

• The idea that when goods and services are exchanged, so is virtual water. When a country imports one ton of wheat instead of producing it domestically, it is saving about 1,200 cubic meters of real indigenous water. If this country is water scarce, the water that is saved can be used towards other ends.

• Large events like the Johannesburg World Summit, the FIFA World Cup or the Olympic Games, that generally have a significant additional impact on local water systems, can be organised in a water neutral way by minimising water use and pollution by all possible means and by investing in local water projects aimed at improved management of the water system as a whole and for the benefits of society at large. Businesses may elect to become water neutral, be it from the perspective of minimising business risks (the risk of running out of water) or from the idea that it offers an attractive way of presenting the business as a responsible and good corporate citizen.

• The water footprint of a business is the direct water use (water for producing, manufacturing, and supporting activities) and indirect use (water used in the business's supply chain). A water footprint is generally expressed in terms of the volume of water use per year. It does not take into account where the water comes from (scarce area or not) but helps raise awareness of just how essential water is to every product worldwide.

• One ton of steel - 234,360 litres of water
• One car - 147,420 litres of water
• One kilogram of beef - 15,500 litres of water
• One kilogram of rice - 3,400 litres of water
• One cup of coffee - 140 litres of water
• One glass of wine - 120 litres of water, a glass is 125 ml
• One glass of beer - 75 litres of water, a glass is 250ml
• One slice of white bread - 40 litres of water
• One cup of tea - 30 litres of water
• For more info on water footprints of different products visit www.waterfootprint.org