Estimation of the standard model of the water footprint of individuals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The study aims to estimate the elements of water footprint and total water footprint of individuals in Saudi Arabia, and the study concluded that the average total water footprint of the individuals in the study sample was about 2329 m3/person/year, of which the food water footprint represents about 80%, and the water footprint of domestic and industrial use is about 20%. By conducting an analysis of variance, it was found that there are statistically significant differences between the averages of the estimates of the food water footprint per person according to the source of the difference represented by the different regions of the kingdom. It also showed the statistical insignificance of the difference between the average industrial water footprints per person according to gender. The results of the standard model indicate that an increase in household income and family size by 10% will increase the water footprint of the individual by 1.8% and 0.2%, respectively. By estimating the standard model to show the effect of the joint interaction between quantitative and formal variables on the total water footprint of the individual in Saudi Arabia, it becomes clear that the effect of the educational level and nationality together is estimated at 286.24 m3, which represents about 12.3% of the total water footprint of the individual and shows the importance of setting policies and programs through which it is possible for reorienting the patterns and behaviors of community members in the kingdom to use water optimally.