Blue Water Footprint Across EU Households: Technology and Consumer Behavior as Main Drivers

Population growth has increased the demand for goods and services, resulting in a higher demand for water. Income inequality can affect water conservation through differences in water consumption patterns by income group. This paper examines the effects of income inequality and consumption patterns on household blue water footprint (BWF). We evaluate the BWF disparity over time driven by the European Union, including UK (EU) households by income quintiles. For this purpose, we develop an environmentally (blue water) and socially (income) extended multi-regional and multi-sectoral input–output (ES-MRIO) model for the EU countries. We study the main drivers contributing to the evolution of the BWF inequality from 1999 to 2015 through a structural decomposition analysis (SDA). The results show the heterogeneity among EU countries, with relevant inequalities between and within countries in relation to groups of income. This leads us to the challenge of reducing this BWF disparity in Europe. Additionally, Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe are the only areas with reductions in the BWF for all income groups during the studied period. Our findings show the relevance of consumption patterns and per capita consumption, as well as domestic technology, as relevant factors explaining observed changes in water footprints. These factors moderate the positive effect expected by technology improvements, which leads to strengthening domestic producer–consumer links and responsibilities.