Natural and social scarcity in water Footprint: A multiregional input–output analysis for Italy

This study estimates the pressure exerted by Italian consumption on domestic and foreign water resources, adopting Multiregional Input Output (MRIO) approach using information of most recent (year 2014) World Input-Output Database (WIOD). Disaggregated results are obtained at country/industry level, identifying geographical sectoral hotspots. The standard volumetric measure footprint (WF) is compared with two impact-weighted measures. Scarce Water Footprint (SWF) corrects accounting physical scarcity as expressed a Scarcity Index (WSI), based ratio between withdrawals supply national level. To account also for social factors affecting availability water, we propose further footprint, Social-Scarce (SoSWF). We find that SWF represents 33.9% WF, but breakdown reveals relevant asymmetry external exploitation: while only 11.2% WF generated impacts scarce imports amounted to 54.9% total resources used produce imported goods. About 45% in China India manufacturing, agriculture electricity, gas supply. When considered 43% an even more evident footprints (12.8% vs 71.1% WF).