170
H. Schlör et al.
Figure 3 shows the estimation of the various levels of water consumption according
to German household groups. The estimation is based on the calculations of the UBA
[23]. The average German household consumes 234 cbm of water per month, whereas
single woman and single man households consume only 73 and 75 cbm a month,
respectively. Single parent households, in contrast, consume on average 229 cbm,
households of couples without children 359 cbm, and couples with children 631 cbm
of direct and indirect water. Figure 3 also shows that the water footprint increases
continuously with rising income. In the group of all households, the households of
the highest income group use on average 2.5 times more water than the average
household of that social group. This spread is also valid for the group of single
parents (2.4). In the case of single women and single men, these households use
2.0 and 2.2 times more direct and indirect water than the average household of this
social group. This spread decreases for the couple households without children and
for the couple households with children to 1.5 and 1.3, respectively. We thus conclude
that the couple households share similar needs which are more independent of the
income than is the case for other households. Analysing the relationship between
direct and indirect water consumption between the highest and the lowest income
group (the lowest income group with data available), we receive a different picture.
The spread between the highest and the lowest income group in the consumption of
direct and indirect water is 15 for the social group of all households. The highest
income group consumes 15 times more water than the households in the lowest
income group. This spread decreases to values around 4 for the single households
and decreases further for the couple households to 3.8 and 2.4. Reverting to the idea
of the worldwide reaches as discussed above, the worldwide water reach of German
household’s increases significantly with growing income.
So far, we have developed the data basis to estimate the capability index of the
FEW-nexus in Germany, considering both direct and indirect effects of the German
consumption and production patterns.
4 German Capability Index (GCI)—A Measure
of the Worldwide Reach
The GCI aggregates the water footprint, the ecological footprint and the data of the
German household survey data into one index. The Capability Index enables the
comparison of direct and indirect impacts of the German consumption patterns of
German households on the FEW-nexus.
H. Schlör et al.
Figure 3 shows the estimation of the various levels of water consumption according
to German household groups. The estimation is based on the calculations of the UBA
[23]. The average German household consumes 234 cbm of water per month, whereas
single woman and single man households consume only 73 and 75 cbm a month,
respectively. Single parent households, in contrast, consume on average 229 cbm,
households of couples without children 359 cbm, and couples with children 631 cbm
of direct and indirect water. Figure 3 also shows that the water footprint increases
continuously with rising income. In the group of all households, the households of
the highest income group use on average 2.5 times more water than the average
household of that social group. This spread is also valid for the group of single
parents (2.4). In the case of single women and single men, these households use
2.0 and 2.2 times more direct and indirect water than the average household of this
social group. This spread decreases for the couple households without children and
for the couple households with children to 1.5 and 1.3, respectively. We thus conclude
that the couple households share similar needs which are more independent of the
income than is the case for other households. Analysing the relationship between
direct and indirect water consumption between the highest and the lowest income
group (the lowest income group with data available), we receive a different picture.
The spread between the highest and the lowest income group in the consumption of
direct and indirect water is 15 for the social group of all households. The highest
income group consumes 15 times more water than the households in the lowest
income group. This spread decreases to values around 4 for the single households
and decreases further for the couple households to 3.8 and 2.4. Reverting to the idea
of the worldwide reaches as discussed above, the worldwide water reach of German
household’s increases significantly with growing income.
So far, we have developed the data basis to estimate the capability index of the
FEW-nexus in Germany, considering both direct and indirect effects of the German
consumption and production patterns.
4 German Capability Index (GCI)—A Measure
of the Worldwide Reach
The GCI aggregates the water footprint, the ecological footprint and the data of the
German household survey data into one index. The Capability Index enables the
comparison of direct and indirect impacts of the German consumption patterns of
German households on the FEW-nexus.