From the vast factories of China consuming 172 billion cubic meters a year to the precision manufacturing in Germany where industry accounts for over half of all water use, the global thirst of industry is a staggering and often hidden driver of water demand worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Globally, industrial water withdrawals accounted for 19% of total water withdrawals in 2018, equating to approximately 745 billion cubic meters annually.
- In the United States, industrial sector freshwater withdrawals totaled 14,800 million gallons per day in 2015, representing 5% of total freshwater use.
- China's industrial water use reached 172 billion cubic meters in 2020, comprising 23% of national total water consumption.
- Globally, industrial water consumption (not withdrawal) was about 15% of total in 2020, or 540 billion cubic meters.
- US industrial water consumption in 2015 was 890 million gallons per day, 3% of freshwater withdrawals.
- China industrial water consumption reached 100 billion cubic meters in 2020, 20% of total consumption.
- Thermoelectric power generation accounted for 41% of US total freshwater withdrawals in 2015, or 133 billion gallons per day.
- Pulp and paper industry used 2.5% of US industrial water in 2015, about 370 million gallons per day.
- Mining sector in US withdrew 1,100 million gallons per day in 2015, 7% of industrial.
- US industrial water use declined 24% from 1985 to 2015.
- EU industrial water abstraction fell 30% between 1990 and 2017.
- China's industrial water use per GDP dropped 80% from 2000 to 2020.
- Global industrial water productivity improved 2x since 1990.
- US manufacturing water use per value added down 50% 1980-2015.
- China steel water intensity from 5 m3/ton to 2.5 m3/ton 2005-2020.
Industrial water use is significant globally, but efficiency is steadily improving.
Consumption Amounts
1Globally, industrial water consumption (not withdrawal) was about 15% of total in 2020, or 540 billion cubic meters.
Verified2US industrial water consumption in 2015 was 890 million gallons per day, 3% of freshwater withdrawals.
Verified3China industrial water consumption reached 100 billion cubic meters in 2020, 20% of total consumption.
Verified4EU industrial water consumption was 10 billion cubic meters in 2017, lower due to recycling.
Directional5India industrial consumption estimated at 8 billion cubic meters per year in 2020.
Single source6Brazil industry consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2010, 5% of total.
Verified7South Africa industry consumption 0.6 billion cubic meters in 2018, 8% of total.
Verified8Australia industrial consumption 250 gigaliters in 2014-15, 4% of total extracted.
Verified9Japan industry consumed 4.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 12% of supply.
Directional10Germany industry consumption 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 40% of abstraction.
Single source11Mexico industry consumed 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2015, 10% of total.
Verified12France industry consumption 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 30% of use.
Verified13Canada industry consumed 1.1 billion cubic meters in 2019, 12% of total.
Verified14Russia industry consumption 12 billion cubic meters in 2017, 20% of total.
Directional15Italy industry consumed 2.5 billion cubic meters in 2019, 25% of withdrawals.
Single source16South Korea industry consumption 2.8 billion cubic meters in 2020, 25% of total.
Verified17UK industry consumed 0.8 billion cubic meters in 2019, 15% of supply.
Verified18Turkey industry consumption 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 12% of total.
Verified19Argentina industry consumed 0.9 billion cubic meters in 2010, 4% of total.
Directional20Saudi Arabia industry consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2016, mostly recycled.
Single source21Spain industry consumption 1.1 billion cubic meters in 2018, 20% of abstraction.
Verified22Netherlands industry consumed 150 million cubic meters in 2019, 8% of total.
Verified23Poland industry consumption 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 60% of abstraction.
Verified24Indonesia industry consumed 3.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 8% of demand.
Directional25Thailand industry consumed 2.2 billion cubic meters in 2016, 15% of total.
Single source26Vietnam industry consumption 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2020, 10% of total.
Verified27Egypt industry consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 7% of allocations.
Verified28Iran industry consumption 2.1 billion cubic meters in 2019, 8% of supply.
Verified29Pakistan industry consumed 2.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 1.5% of total.
DirectionalConsumption Amounts Interpretation
The world's factories are impressively thirsty, guzzling a global cocktail that is 15% water, though the recipe varies wildly from Poland's industrial vodka (60% of their abstraction) to the US's surprisingly light industrial beer (just 3% of withdrawals).
Efficiency Metrics
1Global industrial water productivity improved 2x since 1990.
Verified2US manufacturing water use per value added down 50% 1980-2015.
Verified3China steel water intensity from 5 m3/ton to 2.5 m3/ton 2005-2020.
Verified4EU textile recycling rate 85%, reducing fresh water by 20% 2017.
Directional5India pulp-paper water use per ton down 40% to 100 m3/ton 2010-2020.
Single source6Semiconductor industry global zero-liquid discharge in 50% fabs by 2020.
Verified7Power plants cooling recirculation 95% in US 2015.
Verified8Mining water reuse 70% in Australia 2019.
Verified9Food industry global water footprint down 15% 2010-2020 via efficiency.
Directional10Chemicals sector recycling 80% in Germany 2018.
Single source11Automotive water use per vehicle down 60% in Japan since 2000.
Verified12Cement dry process 90% less water than wet, global shift 80% by 2020.
Verified13Oil-gas hydraulic fracturing water recycled 50% US 2020.
Verified14Breweries water-to-beer ratio from 10:1 to 3:1 global average 2010-2020.
Directional15Data centers PUE water metric improved 30% 2015-2020.
Single source16Textile wet processing water reuse 40% China 2020.
Verified17Aluminum smelters recycling 95% water Australia.
Verified18Pharma clean-in-place recycling 70% EU.
Verified19Glass industry furnace cooling water 98% recirculated EU.
Directional20Fertilizer plants achieve 90% water recovery Netherlands.
Single source21Leather industry chrome recovery 85% reducing water in India.
Verified22Bioenergy ethanol water use per liter down 50% Brazil 2005-2020.
VerifiedEfficiency Metrics Interpretation
From brewing a better beer to forging a drier future, industries worldwide are finally learning that the best way to stay above water is to stop wasting it below.
Geographic Variations
1US industrial water use declined 24% from 1985 to 2015.
Verified2EU industrial water abstraction fell 30% between 1990 and 2017.
Verified3China's industrial water use per GDP dropped 80% from 2000 to 2020.
Verified4India industrial water demand to rise 28% by 2030.
Directional5Middle East industrial water use up 50% 2005-2015 due desalination.
Single source6Sub-Saharan Africa industrial share from 1% to 5% 1990-2020.
Verified7Latin America industrial water flat at 10% total 2000-2018.
Verified8Southeast Asia industrial water doubled 2000-2020.
Verified9Russia industrial water use down 40% post-1990.
Directional10Japan industrial water use halved since 1970.
Single source11South Korea industrial per unit GDP down 70% 1990-2020.
Verified12Australia mining water up 20% 2000-2015.
Verified13Canada oil sands water use tripled 2000-2019.
Verified14UK industrial abstraction stable at 2 bcm since 1990.
Directional15France industrial down 25% 1990-2018.
Single source16Germany industrial water intensity halved 1991-2018.
Verified17Mexico industrial up 15% 2010-2020.
Verified18South Africa industrial steady at 2 bcm 2000-2018.
Verified19Brazil industrial per GDP down 30% 2000-2018.
Directional20Turkey industrial doubled 2000-2018.
Single source21Iran industrial up 25% despite shortages 2010-2020.
VerifiedGeographic Variations Interpretation
Across the developed world, industrial water use has been dramatically curtailed through efficiency and decline, but the relentless thirst of emerging and resource-intensive economies is proving that global progress, much like water itself, refuses to flow in just one direction.
Sector Breakdowns
1Thermoelectric power generation accounted for 41% of US total freshwater withdrawals in 2015, or 133 billion gallons per day.
Verified2Pulp and paper industry used 2.5% of US industrial water in 2015, about 370 million gallons per day.
Verified3Mining sector in US withdrew 1,100 million gallons per day in 2015, 7% of industrial.
Verified4Chemicals manufacturing consumed 690 million gallons per day in US 2015, largest mining-chemical.
Directional5Food products industry used 410 million gallons per day in US 2015.
Single source6Primary metals used 360 million gallons per day in US industrial water 2015.
Verified7Globally, manufacturing uses 70% of industrial water, power 20%, others 10% in 2020.
Verified8In China, textile industry 15% of industrial water use in 2020.
Verified9Steel production in EU used 11% of industrial water in 2017.
Directional10Oil and gas in US withdrew 100 million gallons per day in 2015, 1% industrial.
Single source11Electronics/semiconductors in Taiwan used 20% of industrial water in 2019.
Verified12Beverage industry globally 1% of industrial but high in developing countries.
Verified13Cement production worldwide 5% of industrial water in 2018.
Verified14Pharmaceuticals in India 10% of industrial sector water 2020.
Directional15Automotive manufacturing in Germany 8% of industrial water 2018.
Single source16Refining/petrochemicals 25% of Saudi industrial water 2016.
Verified17Food processing 20% of Brazil industrial water 2010.
Verified18Coal mining 30% of South Africa industrial water 2018.
Verified19Electronics 40% of South Korea industrial water 2020.
Directional20Paper mills 15% of Canadian industrial water 2019.
Single source21Aluminum smelting 12% of Australia industrial water 2014.
Verified22Glass manufacturing 5% global industrial water.
Verified23Leather tanning 3% in India industrial water.
Verified24Fertilizer production 18% of EU industrial water 2017.
Directional25Data centers projected 1% US industrial by 2025.
Single source26Biofuels 2% Brazil industrial water 2010.
Verified27Textile dyeing 25% China industrial water 2020.
Verified28Semiconductor fabs 15% global electronics water.
Verified29Mining 40% Chile industrial water 2018.
DirectionalSector Breakdowns Interpretation
Thermoelectric power generation is the Goliath of US water consumption, guzzling a staggering 133 billion gallons daily to keep the lights on, while a thirsty global industrial menagerie—from thirsty Chinese textiles to Taiwan's semiconductor fabs—vividly illustrates that virtually everything we make comes with a hidden water bill.
Withdrawal Volumes
1Globally, industrial water withdrawals accounted for 19% of total water withdrawals in 2018, equating to approximately 745 billion cubic meters annually.
Verified2In the United States, industrial sector freshwater withdrawals totaled 14,800 million gallons per day in 2015, representing 5% of total freshwater use.
Verified3China's industrial water use reached 172 billion cubic meters in 2020, comprising 23% of national total water consumption.
Verified4In the European Union, industrial water abstraction was 44 billion cubic meters in 2017, or 22% of total freshwater abstraction.
Directional5India's industrial water withdrawal stood at 42 billion cubic meters per year in 2010, expected to double by 2025.
Single source6Brazil's industrial sector withdrew 5.2 billion cubic meters of water in 2010, accounting for 8% of total withdrawals.
Verified7In South Africa, mining and industry used 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2018, 12% of total water use.
Verified8Australia's industrial water use was 1,200 gigaliters in 2014-15, 7% of total water extracted.
Verified9Japan's manufacturing sector withdrew 13.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 17% of total public water supply.
Directional10Germany's industrial water abstraction reached 2.1 billion cubic meters in 2018, 55% of total abstraction.
Single source11In Mexico, industrial water use was 4.5 billion cubic meters annually in 2015, 13% of total.
Verified12France's industrial sector abstracted 5.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 49% of freshwater use.
Verified13Canada's industrial water withdrawals totaled 3.3 billion cubic meters in 2019, 17% of total.
Verified14In Russia, industry consumed 28 billion cubic meters in 2017, 25% of total water resources used.
Directional15Italy's industrial water use was 7.8 billion cubic meters in 2019, 34% of total withdrawals.
Single source16South Korea's industrial water withdrawal hit 6.8 billion cubic meters in 2020, 30% of national total.
Verified17In the UK, industry abstracted 1.9 billion cubic meters in 2019, 18% of total public supply.
Verified18Turkey's industrial sector used 4.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 15% of total water use.
Verified19Argentina's industry withdrew 2.1 billion cubic meters annually, 6% of total in 2010.
Directional20Saudi Arabia's industrial water use reached 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2016, primarily desalinated.
Single source21In Spain, industrial abstraction was 3,800 million cubic meters in 2018, 25% of total.
Verified22Netherlands industry used 400 million cubic meters in 2019, 10% of total abstraction.
Verified23Poland's industrial water withdrawal was 2.9 billion cubic meters in 2018, 70% of total.
Verified24Indonesia's industry consumed 12 billion cubic meters in 2015, 10% of total water demand.
Directional25Thailand's industrial sector withdrew 8.5 billion cubic meters in 2016, 20% of total.
Single source26Vietnam's industrial water use grew to 5.2 billion cubic meters by 2020, 12% of total.
Verified27Egypt's industrial withdrawal was 3.1 billion cubic meters in 2018, 9% of Nile allocations.
Verified28Iran's industries used 4.8 billion cubic meters annually in 2019, 10% of total supply.
Verified29Pakistan's industrial sector abstracted 6.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 2% of total but growing.
DirectionalWithdrawal Volumes Interpretation
While the globe may be mostly water, these statistics show we're quite good at turning a considerable and often overlooked share of it—from Germany's commanding 55% to India's thirsty forecast—into everything but blue.
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