Global use of water resources: A multiregional analysis of water use, water footprint and water trade balance

In this paper a multiregional input–output model is proposed and used to estimate time series trends for water use, water footprint and water trade balance. By using data provided by the World Input–Output Database, the water used in production, consumption and trade is quantified for 41 world regions between 1995 and 2008. Results show that global water use grew by 37.3%, with China, India and Brazil contributing most to that increase. China and India, together with the EU-27, were also responsible for the largest water footprint variations. In terms of trade, the EU-27 was the largest water importer and China and India the main water exporters. The results provided in this paper offer an overview of the main countries’ responsibility for the use of water resources. They provide a good starting point for international debates and policies on sustainable water use.