Analysis of Water Consumption in Iran's Economy with a Consumption-based Approach (A Water Footprint Perspective)

Today, water scarcity has been turned into one of the most troublesome problem facing our country that Iran faces it. Since a considerable amount of water resources used for the production of economic products, the analysis of how to use water in different economic sectors in bid to manage these resources important appropriately has a great importance. Recent researches suggest that consumption-based measures offer an insightful perspective on the debate on the relationship between the environment (specifically water) and economic sectors. In this connection, this study aims to analyze water consumption in Iranian economic sections with a consumption-based approach. To achieve an objective, the "water footprint" index as well as input-output model has been used. Results show that status of Water consumption in many sectors is considerably different from traditional approaches with a consumption-based approach. Based on water footprint, agricultural sector is still ranked the first in water consumption among all economic sectors while its share of total consumption has been decreased approximately from 91.4 percent to less than 53 percent based on traditional approach. But in food industries sector, share of total (water) consumption has been increased from 0.76 percent to 33.68 percent. According to the other measurements, in 2011, per capita water footprint of every Iranian citizen is about 1275 m3. Also, Iran has had approximately 8115 million m3 of net virtual water imports in this year.