Water footprint assignment
Graph comparing the four different WF tools
Summary of strength and weakness
National geographic
National geographic is a detailed tool for the water footprint involving the user taking a survey of his location including the year when they first settled in the region. The study of location is crucial since it constitute information that individuals would like to access about their water consumption. The individual would be able to fill information on everything (relating to water consumption) in his location such as the effect related to home, diet, energy and other stuffs (National Geographic, 2012). This method involves many survey questions that an individual will have to attend to before getting the final answer. There is a possibility that the individual may tire up in the course of answering the question leading to a higher probability of providing wrong information.
Water footprint
This tool makes use of the provision that the water consumption is the same to the water required to produce the goods and services consume by an individual. This tool allows the respondents to fill information about their food consumption, domestic water use and industrial goods consumption (Water Footprint Network, 2012). The strength of using this tool is that it provides the respondents with detailed and accurate estimates about their daily water consumption. It presents the respondents with the water footprint calculator to help in determining their water use (Water Footprint Network, 2012). Through the tool, the respondents are able to distinguish their water consumption from that of others since it provides unique footprint for everybody. However, many people will deviate from using this tool because of the time the respondents would have to take. The respondents will have to involve themselves in the calculation of their daily goods and services consumption. This tool is also not suitable for the illiterates who are able to calculate accurately their food consumption.
USGS
The USGS normally makes use of determining the amount of water used by individual in order to measure the amount of water use in the environment. The strength of this tool arises from the way it presents the survey questions. It is easy to fill the survey questions since an individual will only need to choose from the provided choices (USGS, 2012). Most people will prefer this tool since it requires no thinking by the respondent. Consequently, every person can use the tool because it is close-ended and people always prefer choices to avoid wasting time on calculations. The question asked gives the respondent a quick idea about his or water consumption. The weakness of this tool arises from its general nature. The nature of the questions only allows general answers indifferent to other tools, which gives the respondents a detailed and accurate estimate of their water consumption. The tool also limits the respondent to specific answers thereby hindering the individual from accessing the real information about his or her water consumption.
H2O conserve
This tool provides the respondents with a water footprint calculator in calculating the amount of water their households use in every dimension of life. This tool provides a systematic method for the respondents to answer questions about their water consumption with both the open ended and close-ended questions. This allows users to get detailed information on their footprints. The question presents also provides user with a hint useful for them to answer the questions (Grace, 2012). It also provides an alternative for the respondents to know much about a specific answer they give. The weakness of this tool is that it consumes more time and the users would have to dedicate much of their time in providing the needed information.
Recommendation for the tools
Water footprint
Individuals and companies who want to achieve the final information about their water consumption should use this tool. This is because this tool involves calculating the amount of water used in producing goods and services in their daily operations (Water Footprint Network, 2012).
National geographic
I recommend this tool for the municipalities who would like to access information about the general water consumption within their locations (National Geographic, 2012). The municipalities are able to access information about the consumption of water in each location. H2O conserve
This tool can be suitable for both companies and municipalities since it involves the study of the activities that make use of water within the organization. It can also apply to individuals even though he or she would have to dedicate much time in answering questions. It allows the organization to access information about water consumption in relation to water, food and energy issues.
USGS
This tool does not allow for detailed information about water consumption. The question asked concentrate on personal experience with water consequently could not help big organization who would like to gauge their consumption. I recommend this tool for individuals who would like to access their daily water consumption since it does not take much time and thinking. Summary to the topics
H2O conserve
The tool does not provide appropriate information about the consumptive water use since it provides general information regarding the number of gallons used per day. The tool may apply to both a specific region and at least one region since after calculating the consumption in a specific region; it will provide the average of all the regions (Grace, 2012). The tool only provides information about the number of gallons used in a day without stating the origin of water.
Water footprint
The tool involves the analysis of the consumptive water use since it gives information about the amount of water wasted, without returning to use, during the daily use of water. The tool also looks at consumption of water in a specific region since the respondent would first have to indicate the region that they hail (Water Footprint Network, 2012). The tool provides information about where the used water originates from since the respondent would have to answer the question about water used for domestic purposes, food consumption and industrial good consumption.
USGS
The tool provides information about the consumptive water use since the respondents would have to get information about the number of gallons that the individual uses in such processes like brushing and bathing (USGS, 2012). The tool normally specializes in giving information about a specific location especially indoors. The tool only gives information about the number of gallons used while not including the origin of the water.
National geographic
The tool provides information about the consumptive water use since it analyzes the amount of water that the individuals use while not recycling (National Geographic, 2012). The tool applies to more than one region because it provides information in all aspects of all water consumption.
Incorporating principles of ESEM
Just like the theoretical principle number 3, the tools for measuring water footprint are a combination of technical scientific and engineering issues and efforts to change behavior of human beings (National Geographic, 2012). The tools especially focus on changing the way in which human perceive water usage besides equipping them with proper ways of managing the essential resource. The tools also take the characteristics of ESEM since it involves the analysis of water consumption concerning the reflection of real-world behaviors (provided in the fourth principle). Consequently, the tools work in the corporation of the ESEM principles.
References
National Geographic, 2012). Water Footprint Calculator. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint- calculator/
Water Footprint Network, 2012). Water Footprint. Retrieved from: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=cal/WaterFootprintCalculator
USGS, 2012). How much is your daily indoor water use? Retrieved from: ` http://ga2.er.usgs.gov/edu/sq3action.cfm
Grace, 2012. What is your Water Footprint. Retrieved from: http://www.h2oconserve.org/home.php?pd=index
