The Invisible Water Consumption – The Truth About 'Living' and 'Virtual' Water
If stories about 'living' or 'dead' water don't particularly astonish you, the mention of 'virtual' water might make you wonder: "Is that really true?" Unfortunately, this is not a dream or a pretty screensaver on your computer or tablet. It is also not the soothing sound of a babbling brook or the rush of waves. No, all of that doesn't matter! 'Virtual' water refers to the hidden costs that many people today often do not fully recognize.
On the other hand, 'living' water is the everyday drinking water we encounter daily. In the morning, we brush our teeth, wash ourselves, and prepare our breakfast. Throughout the day, we drink to quench our thirst or use it for various household needs. We measure water consumption in our households with the help of meters. Given the rising prices of water, we try to reduce consumption without compromising on quality. However, the quality of tap water is monitored by municipal authorities and water supply companies.
But what about so-called 'virtual' or 'indirect' water? This concept refers to the amount of water used in industry, recreation, and agriculture – that is, for producing goods and services that make our lives more enjoyable. Have you ever wondered how much water a factory needs to produce a liter of juice? Or how much liquid a paper mill requires to produce just one pack of bright white paper?
An example from our daily lives: When you eat cornflakes, you might think that not much water is needed for that. But that's a misconception! Water is necessary for growing corn and irrigating fields – which adds up to hundreds and thousands of cubic meters of liquid. Agriculture and livestock farming are among the most water-intensive industries. Furthermore, producing cereals requires water at every stage: from harvesting grain to cleaning machines. Even packaging cannot be done without water.
Here are some examples of enormous water consumption:
- A pack of potato chips (180 grams) – 160 liters
- One kilogram of beef – 15,000 liters
- A sausage made from pork – 9,800 liters
- One kilogram of butter – 30,000 liters
- A pair of jeans – 11,000 liters
- One liter of orange juice – 280 liters
- About 1,600 liters are required for one kilogram of bread.
- And over 200 liters are needed for a cup of tea.
These figures impressively illustrate how closely our lifestyle is linked to water consumption – often without us realizing it. We often have no idea how much water is needed before food lands on our table or clothing hangs in our closet, not to mention furniture in our homes.
By informing ourselves about the actual water consumption of our products and making sustainable choices, we can help reduce our ecological footprint and manage this precious resource more responsibly. Let’s pay attention together to how much 'invisible' water is present in our daily lives!