Water is a limited, scarce resource, but one that is also indispensable for life on Earth.

Our planet has available approximately 1.4 billion km3 of water, but only roughly 2.5% of this is freshwater. Most of this amount presents difficulties in use and, in fact, only a little less than 45,000 km3 of water (equal to 0.003% of the total) is theoretically usable. However, it is estimated that only 9,000-14,000 km3 of water (0.001% of the total) is actually available for use by man.

Agriculture uses 70% of the freshwater available on the planet (22% is used by industry and 8% is for domestic use) and this figure is destined to rise as the population grows.
Our diet also influences the availability of water. Thanks to the concept of Virtual Water, we are able to measure the amount of water required to produce, cook and preserve food. Through this model, we know that with a meat-rich diet, each individual consumes daily 4,000-5,000 liters of water because of the water required to feed and raise livestock until it is butchered. On the other hand, daily water consumption in a diet comprised of grains, fruit, vegetables and fish is “just” 1,500-2,600 liters.

Population increase, climate change, unregulated use and waste have led us to ask ourselves, today, if we will have sufficient freshwater in the future for eating, drinking, farming and manufacturing. In short, enough for living. And at the same time, we find ourselves examining the value of water, a universal right but also the subject of economic interests that put at risk the availability of this precious resource to a part of the world’s population.