The role of virtual water in water resource management

Document Type : review paper

Authors

Sajjad Razavi ¹

Kamran Davary ²

¹ MSc. Student, Water Engineering Department, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

² Associate Professor, Water Engineering Department, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v1i1.34544

Abstract

 In recent years, due to population growth, increase in water demand and available resources sustainability of water resources has not achieved. Water crisis in arid and semiarid climates such as Iran is critical which necessitates a new approach in water resources management. One of the new approaches in the world is known as virtual water trade and water footprint concept. Water trade is defined as importing water-intensive products from countries with water scarcity. In this study the concepts of virtual water and water footprint and related concepts such as water efficiency, renewable water, consumption patterns, consumptive and non-consumptive use are described schematically in the form of tables and figure. Finally the problems and challenges of virtual water calculation in Iran are indicated and some solutions are represented to overcome them. 

Keywords

Consumptive use

Virtual water

Water footprint

Water trade

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