Tag: Virtual water

According to the Water Footprint Network, the global average water footprint for refined cane sugar is approximately 1,780 liters per kilogram. This staggering figure highlights the considerable amount of water required to produce sugar, a process that extends far beyond the factory gates to include the cultivation of water-intensive crops like sugarcane and sugar beet.

The average person drinks 2 to 4 liters of water a day, but consumes an astonishing 2,000 to 5,000 liters daily in the form of 'virtual water' embedded in their food. This hidden water consumption is directly tied to our dietary choices and has significant environmental consequences.

According to the Water Footprint Network, a single margherita pizza requires an estimated 333 gallons (1,260 liters) of water to produce. The question of how many gallons of water are in a pizza reveals the hidden environmental cost embedded within our favorite comfort food.

Globally, up to 70% of freshwater withdrawals are used for agriculture, dwarfing all other human uses. This reveals that the answer to "what is the biggest source of water consumption?" lies not in our taps, but in the food we consume, highlighting the powerful link between a nutrition diet and global water resources.