Water footprint based on the consumption of virtual water is a new concept and can reflect the actual water real consumption and occupation.It profoundly posts the real water consumption of social-economic system and offers a new viewpoint for water resource management.In this paper,the author put forward the concept of water footprint and the methodologies.As a case,the water footprint of Dalian was quantified and analyzed,mainly based on the concept of virtual water and its quantification methods.The author also posted the actuality,characteristic and problems of the consumption of Dalian and pointed out that the virtual water strategy is one new way of solving the problem of water short.