Water footprint and sustainable development goals: A bibliometric, semantic, and thematic analysis in economic-administrative sciences

Abstract

A common misconception persists that water conservation primarily involves efficient use in domestic activities. While such practices are undeniably important, they account for only 4 % of daily water consumption. The remaining 96 % is embedded—directly or indirectly—in the products and services that are used, known as virtual water. This hidden water use is quantified through the water footprint indicator, a member of the environmental footprint family, which reveals how production and consumption choices impact water resources. This study conducts an objective, exhaustive, and meticulous examination of existing water footprint research through a systematic literature review, complemented by bibliometric, semantic, and thematic analyses. Framed within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and viewed through the lens of economic-administrative sciences, this approach contextualizes the topic, identifies understudied areas, uncovers subtle relationships between variables, and maps patterns and trends in scientific production.

The results highlight the necessity of a comprehensive approach to studying the water footprint, given its inherent complexity and the interdependencies among multiple influencing factors.