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
- 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.
- EU industrial water consumption was 10 billion cubic meters in 2017, lower due to recycling.
- India industrial consumption estimated at 8 billion cubic meters per year in 2020.
- Brazil industry consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2010, 5% of total.
- South Africa industry consumption 0.6 billion cubic meters in 2018, 8% of total.
- Australia industrial consumption 250 gigaliters in 2014-15, 4% of total extracted.
- Japan industry consumed 4.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 12% of supply.
- Germany industry consumption 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 40% of abstraction.
- Mexico industry consumed 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2015, 10% of total.
- France industry consumption 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 30% of use.
- Canada industry consumed 1.1 billion cubic meters in 2019, 12% of total.
- Russia industry consumption 12 billion cubic meters in 2017, 20% of total.
- Italy industry consumed 2.5 billion cubic meters in 2019, 25% of withdrawals.
- South Korea industry consumption 2.8 billion cubic meters in 2020, 25% of total.
- UK industry consumed 0.8 billion cubic meters in 2019, 15% of supply.
- Turkey industry consumption 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 12% of total.
- Argentina industry consumed 0.9 billion cubic meters in 2010, 4% of total.
- Saudi Arabia industry consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2016, mostly recycled.
- Spain industry consumption 1.1 billion cubic meters in 2018, 20% of abstraction.
- Netherlands industry consumed 150 million cubic meters in 2019, 8% of total.
- Poland industry consumption 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 60% of abstraction.
- Indonesia industry consumed 3.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 8% of demand.
- Thailand industry consumed 2.2 billion cubic meters in 2016, 15% of total.
- Vietnam industry consumption 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2020, 10% of total.
- Egypt industry consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 7% of allocations.
- Iran industry consumption 2.1 billion cubic meters in 2019, 8% of supply.
- Pakistan industry consumed 2.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 1.5% of total.
Consumption 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
- 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.
- EU textile recycling rate 85%, reducing fresh water by 20% 2017.
- India pulp-paper water use per ton down 40% to 100 m3/ton 2010-2020.
- Semiconductor industry global zero-liquid discharge in 50% fabs by 2020.
- Power plants cooling recirculation 95% in US 2015.
- Mining water reuse 70% in Australia 2019.
- Food industry global water footprint down 15% 2010-2020 via efficiency.
- Chemicals sector recycling 80% in Germany 2018.
- Automotive water use per vehicle down 60% in Japan since 2000.
- Cement dry process 90% less water than wet, global shift 80% by 2020.
- Oil-gas hydraulic fracturing water recycled 50% US 2020.
- Breweries water-to-beer ratio from 10:1 to 3:1 global average 2010-2020.
- Data centers PUE water metric improved 30% 2015-2020.
- Textile wet processing water reuse 40% China 2020.
- Aluminum smelters recycling 95% water Australia.
- Pharma clean-in-place recycling 70% EU.
- Glass industry furnace cooling water 98% recirculated EU.
- Fertilizer plants achieve 90% water recovery Netherlands.
- Leather industry chrome recovery 85% reducing water in India.
- Bioenergy ethanol water use per liter down 50% Brazil 2005-2020.
Efficiency 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
- 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.
- India industrial water demand to rise 28% by 2030.
- Middle East industrial water use up 50% 2005-2015 due desalination.
- Sub-Saharan Africa industrial share from 1% to 5% 1990-2020.
- Latin America industrial water flat at 10% total 2000-2018.
- Southeast Asia industrial water doubled 2000-2020.
- Russia industrial water use down 40% post-1990.
- Japan industrial water use halved since 1970.
- South Korea industrial per unit GDP down 70% 1990-2020.
- Australia mining water up 20% 2000-2015.
- Canada oil sands water use tripled 2000-2019.
- UK industrial abstraction stable at 2 bcm since 1990.
- France industrial down 25% 1990-2018.
- Germany industrial water intensity halved 1991-2018.
- Mexico industrial up 15% 2010-2020.
- South Africa industrial steady at 2 bcm 2000-2018.
- Brazil industrial per GDP down 30% 2000-2018.
- Turkey industrial doubled 2000-2018.
- Iran industrial up 25% despite shortages 2010-2020.
Geographic 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
- 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.
- Chemicals manufacturing consumed 690 million gallons per day in US 2015, largest mining-chemical.
- Food products industry used 410 million gallons per day in US 2015.
- Primary metals used 360 million gallons per day in US industrial water 2015.
- Globally, manufacturing uses 70% of industrial water, power 20%, others 10% in 2020.
- In China, textile industry 15% of industrial water use in 2020.
- Steel production in EU used 11% of industrial water in 2017.
- Oil and gas in US withdrew 100 million gallons per day in 2015, 1% industrial.
- Electronics/semiconductors in Taiwan used 20% of industrial water in 2019.
- Beverage industry globally 1% of industrial but high in developing countries.
- Cement production worldwide 5% of industrial water in 2018.
- Pharmaceuticals in India 10% of industrial sector water 2020.
- Automotive manufacturing in Germany 8% of industrial water 2018.
- Refining/petrochemicals 25% of Saudi industrial water 2016.
- Food processing 20% of Brazil industrial water 2010.
- Coal mining 30% of South Africa industrial water 2018.
- Electronics 40% of South Korea industrial water 2020.
- Paper mills 15% of Canadian industrial water 2019.
- Aluminum smelting 12% of Australia industrial water 2014.
- Glass manufacturing 5% global industrial water.
- Leather tanning 3% in India industrial water.
- Fertilizer production 18% of EU industrial water 2017.
- Data centers projected 1% US industrial by 2025.
- Biofuels 2% Brazil industrial water 2010.
- Textile dyeing 25% China industrial water 2020.
- Semiconductor fabs 15% global electronics water.
- Mining 40% Chile industrial water 2018.
Sector 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
- 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.
- In the European Union, industrial water abstraction was 44 billion cubic meters in 2017, or 22% of total freshwater abstraction.
- India's industrial water withdrawal stood at 42 billion cubic meters per year in 2010, expected to double by 2025.
- Brazil's industrial sector withdrew 5.2 billion cubic meters of water in 2010, accounting for 8% of total withdrawals.
- In South Africa, mining and industry used 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2018, 12% of total water use.
- Australia's industrial water use was 1,200 gigaliters in 2014-15, 7% of total water extracted.
- Japan's manufacturing sector withdrew 13.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 17% of total public water supply.
- Germany's industrial water abstraction reached 2.1 billion cubic meters in 2018, 55% of total abstraction.
- In Mexico, industrial water use was 4.5 billion cubic meters annually in 2015, 13% of total.
- France's industrial sector abstracted 5.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 49% of freshwater use.
- Canada's industrial water withdrawals totaled 3.3 billion cubic meters in 2019, 17% of total.
- In Russia, industry consumed 28 billion cubic meters in 2017, 25% of total water resources used.
- Italy's industrial water use was 7.8 billion cubic meters in 2019, 34% of total withdrawals.
- South Korea's industrial water withdrawal hit 6.8 billion cubic meters in 2020, 30% of national total.
- In the UK, industry abstracted 1.9 billion cubic meters in 2019, 18% of total public supply.
- Turkey's industrial sector used 4.2 billion cubic meters in 2018, 15% of total water use.
- Argentina's industry withdrew 2.1 billion cubic meters annually, 6% of total in 2010.
- Saudi Arabia's industrial water use reached 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2016, primarily desalinated.
- In Spain, industrial abstraction was 3,800 million cubic meters in 2018, 25% of total.
- Netherlands industry used 400 million cubic meters in 2019, 10% of total abstraction.
- Poland's industrial water withdrawal was 2.9 billion cubic meters in 2018, 70% of total.
- Indonesia's industry consumed 12 billion cubic meters in 2015, 10% of total water demand.
- Thailand's industrial sector withdrew 8.5 billion cubic meters in 2016, 20% of total.
- Vietnam's industrial water use grew to 5.2 billion cubic meters by 2020, 12% of total.
- Egypt's industrial withdrawal was 3.1 billion cubic meters in 2018, 9% of Nile allocations.
- Iran's industries used 4.8 billion cubic meters annually in 2019, 10% of total supply.
- Pakistan's industrial sector abstracted 6.5 billion cubic meters in 2015, 2% of total but growing.
Withdrawal 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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