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The issue of water and its management has become increasingly central to the global debate on sustainable development. This interest has been driven by growing water demand, increasing water scarcity in many areas and/or degradation of water quality. This drives the need for a better understanding of water related impacts as a basis for improved water management at local, regional, national and global levels.
It is therefore desirable to have appropriate assessment techniques that can be used in an internationally consistent manner.
One of the techniques being developed for this purpose is the water footprint assessment.