Look at the table below to see how much water is required to produce common foodstuffs.
Foodstuff | Quantity | Water consumption, litres |
---|---|---|
Egg | 1 | 196 |
Cotton | 1 @ 250g | 2,495 |
Chocolate | 1 kg | 17,196 |
Beef | 1 kg | 15,415 |
Sheep Meat | 1 kg | 10,412 |
Pork | 1 kg | 5,988 |
Butter | 1 kg | 5,553 |
Chicken meat | 1 kg | 4,325 |
Cheese | 1 kg | 3,178 |
Olives | 1 kg | 3,025 |
Rice | 1 kg | 2,497 |
Pasta (dry) | 1 kg | 1,849 |
Bread | 1 kg | 1,608 |
Apple | 1 kg | 822 |
Banana | 1 kg | 790 |
Potatoes | 1 kg | 287 |
Cabbage | 1 kg | 237 |
Tomato | 1 kg | 214 |
Pizza | 1 unit | 1,239 |
Tea | 1 x 250 ml cup | 27 |
Milk | 1 x 250ml glass | 255 |
Wine | 1 x 250ml glass | 109 |
Beer | 1 x 250ml glass | 74 |
Download the source data (Excel)
Source: Institute of Mechanical Engineers
For an excellent introduction to the topic, see Tony Allan (2011) Virtual Water: tackling the threat to our planet’s most precious resource, London, Tauris (see the diagram on the water cost of breakfast).