Introduction to the Book—Sustainability and Water Footprint: Industry-Specific Assessments and Recommendations

The first chapter introduces the concept and assessment of water footprint in addition to presenting the contents and structuring of the book. This chapter will orient the readers to the crux of the book. The water footprint measures the amount of water used directly and indirectly by consumers and producers, including blue water (surface and groundwater), green water (rainwater), and grey water (water required to assimilate pollutants). This comprehensive metric helps in understanding the total water consumption and its impacts, thereby guiding more sustainable water management practices.