1. The relation between consumption and water use.

Water use is described as the total amount of water that is

withdrawn from a source to be used in industrial, agricultural and
domestic uses. In other words, it helps to evaluate the water demand.
Most of the water are returned to watershed after usage.

Water consumption is the portion of water that is not returned to its

original source after being withdrawn. Consumption occurs when water
is lost into the atmosphere through evaporation or incorporated into a
product or plant (such as a corn stalk) and is no longer available for
reuse.

Water consumption is particularly relevant when analyzing water

scarcity and the impact of human activities on water availability.
Understanding both water use and consumption is critical to
evaluating water stress. Measures of water usage indicate the level of
competition and dependency on water resources.

Additionally, water is rarely returned to a watershed in perfect

condition after being used by industry, agriculture, and other users,
and change in quality contributes to water stress levels. Water
consumption estimates, on the other hand, help gauge the impact of
water use on downstream water availability and are essential to
evaluating water shortages and scarcity at the watershed level,
including impacts to aquatic ecosystems.

Therefore, a holistic understanding of water stress requires analysis

of both the total use and consumption of water.
2.

Green water footprint:

The amount of rainwater required (evaporated or used directly) to
make a product.

Blue water footprint:

The amount of surface water and groundwater required (evaporated
or used directly) to make a product.

Grey water footprint:

The amount of freshwater required to mix and dilute pollutants
enough to maintain water quality according to certain standards (like
the ones established in the US Clean Water Act) as a result of making a
product.

Black water footprint:

The water from drainage and washing activities is called grey water.
On the other hand, the water that was used to flush the toilet creates a
different story that is called Blackwater. Hence septic water from toilet
is called Blackwater, Blackwater footprint is the amount of freshwater
 required to mix and dilute pollutants to maintain the water quality
index as a result of making a product.

3. What makes a Blue, Green or Grey water footprint?

Green water footprint is water from precipitation that is stored in the
root zone of the soil and evaporated, transpired or incorporated by
plants. It is particularly relevant for agricultural, horticultural and
forestry products.

Blue water footprint is water that has been sourced from surface or
groundwater resources and is either evaporated, incorporated into a
product or taken from one body of water and returned to another, or
returned at a different time. Irrigated agriculture, industry and
domestic water use can each have a blue water footprint.

Grey water footprint is the amount of fresh water required to

assimilate pollutants to meet specific water quality standards. The
grey water footprint considers point-source pollution discharged to a
freshwater resource directly through a pipe or indirectly through
runoff or leaching from the soil, impervious surfaces, or other diffuse
sources