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Sustainability, Efficiency and Equitability of Water Consumption and Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean

Author

Listed:
  • Mesfin M. Mekonnen

    (Twente Water Centre, Water Management Group, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Markus Pahlow

    (Twente Water Centre, Water Management Group, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Maite M. Aldaya

    (Department of Geodynamics, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain)

  • Erika Zarate

    (Good Stuff International, Bowil 3533, Switzerland)

  • Arjen Y. Hoekstra

    (Twente Water Centre, Water Management Group, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This paper assesses the sustainability, efficiency and equity of water use in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by means of a geographic Water Footprint Assessment (WFA). It aims to provide understanding of water use from both a production and consumption point of view. The study identifies priority basins and areas from the perspectives of blue water scarcity, water pollution and deforestation. Wheat, fodder crops and sugarcane are identified as priority products related to blue water scarcity. The domestic sector is the priority sector regarding water pollution from nitrogen. Soybean and pasture are priority products related to deforestation. We estimate that consumptive water use in crop production could be reduced by 37% and nitrogen-related water pollution by 44% if water footprints were reduced to certain specified benchmark levels. The average WF per consumer in the region is 28% larger than the global average and varies greatly, from 912 m 3 /year per capita in Nicaragua to 3468 m 3 /year in Bolivia. Ironically, the LAC region shows significant levels of undernourishment, although there is abundant water and food production in the region and substantial use of land and water for producing export crops like soybean.

Suggested Citation

  • Mesfin M. Mekonnen & Markus Pahlow & Maite M. Aldaya & Erika Zarate & Arjen Y. Hoekstra, 2015. "Sustainability, Efficiency and Equitability of Water Consumption and Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-27, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:2:p:2086-2112:d:45939
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Francesca Loia & Paola Adinolfi, 2021. "Teleworking as an Eco-Innovation for Sustainable Development: Assessing Collective Perceptions during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Seijger, Chris & Urfels, Anton & Christoforidou, Maria & Hellegers, Petra & Borghuis, Gerlo & Langan, Simon & van Halsema, Gerardo, 2025. "More food, but less land and water for nature: Why agricultural productivity gains did not materialize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    10. Bustamante-Silveira, Mauricio & Siri-Prieto, Guillermo & Carrasco-Letelier, Leonidas, 2021. "Water footprints of bioethanol cropping systems in Uruguay," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    11. Romeo Victor Ionescu & Monica Laura Zlati & Valentin Marian Antohi & Silvius Stanciu, 2018. "Reduced Inequalities as Factor of Sustainable Development: The Analysis Under Econometric Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-23, September.
    12. Arjen Y. Hoekstra & Ashok K. Chapagain & Guoping Zhang, 2015. "Water Footprints and Sustainable Water Allocation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    13. Joaquin Romano & Byron V. Coral, 2020. "Public Management, Private Management and Collective Action in the Portoviejo River Basin: Visions and Conflicts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    14. Vos, Jeroen, 2025. "The political ecology of our water footprints: Rethinking the colours of virtual water," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
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    16. Ijaz Ahmad & Fan Zhang & Junguo Liu & Muhammad Naveed Anjum & Muhammad Zaman & Muhammad Tayyab & Muhammad Waseem & Hafiz Umar Farid, 2018. "A linear bi-level multi-objective program for optimal allocation of water resources," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, February.

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