Virtual water: A hidden natural resource in Serbia

Abstract

Integrated water protection implies not only protection of water quality, but also protection of the quantity of useable water as one of the most important natural resources. This includes virtual water, which is water as an integral part of the product, used during its production process and contaminated by it. It connects water with trade. Virtual water can be qualitatively determined by the water footprint concept, which refers to the amount of water used by any defined body, ranging from an individual to the entire nation. Further studies of water consumption and usage in food production led to the development of water footprint as a three-part system, comprising blue, green and grey water. A shift from the previous exclusive importance of blue water to the newly emerged significance of green water zone, led to a conclusion that with adequate water management, even countries suffering from a serious water shortage could produce enough food. The concept of virtual water led to new perspectives in understanding the ways water is traded worldwide, in terms of volumes virtually contained within the traded products.

Keywords

• virtual water
• water footprint
• blue
• green and grey water