A spatially explicit assessment of water use by the global semiconductor industry

Abstract

The semiconductor industry utilizes vast freshwater resources for its high-tech manufacturing processes. This work will enumerate the impact of the global semiconductor manufacturing industry on water resources. A global inventory of semiconductor manufacturing capacity, in combination with an approximation of water use required to manufacture an individual semiconductor chip, will be used to estimate water consumption by each semiconductor fabrication facility and globally. A simplified water stress assessment will be conducted by multiplying facility water use data by a water scarcity factor. Maps of the scarcity weighted water use will be used to identify watersheds that may be disproportionately impacted by semiconductor manufacturing water use. This may be especially important for regions of growth in the semiconductor industry such as China and Southeast Asia. Once these areas have been identified a detailed water footprint for the facilities located in the subwatershed of interest can be conducted.