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The virtual water strategy (VWS) is an effective tool to balance regional water resource endowments and guarantee water supply security. However, because of self‐interested games around VWS (human decision bias), there is a need for methods to maintain reliable cooperation between governments, virtual water (VW) enterprises and research institutions. This study builds a multi‐agent evolutionary game model to analyse the relationship of players and their impacts on VWS through changing decision mechanisms and the paths to enhance their confidence in cooperation. Considering differences in initial willingness to cooperate and changing factors affecting payoffs, an evolutionary game can produce changing stable equilibriums or stable cooperations, even if some players are reluctant to cooperate. Therefore, to promote the development of VWS, a multistep support mechanism can be built for the VW industry, which fosters model enterprises and optimizes the cooperation framework to stimulate research innovations at scientific institutions. Highlights: Traditional virtual water strategy (VWS) studies ignored the specific implementation and stakeholder game issues.A multi‐agent evolutionary game model is built to analyse the stable states and decision mechanisms for VWS.The payoffs of each game player will affect its strategy choice and the speed of model evolution.It is clearly possible for the stakeholders to form a stable equilibrium of long‐term cooperation around the VWS.Changing the factors of one game player may indirectly lead to changes in the strategies of other players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commodity exports have played a crucial role in driving global economic growth, but they have also led to increased flow and consumption of natural resources worldwide. To measure and analyse the inter‐regional virtual water consumption and value‐added benefits driven by exports, as well as the unequal exchange between regions, we utilised the global supply chain database of Eora to construct a multi‐regional input–output (MRIO) model of virtual water consumption and value‐added benefits among 189 countries and regions from 1991 to 2016. We also proposed a virtual water consumption uneven index. The results highlight that relatively less developed regions accounted for 27% of the world's total export value added and 56% of virtual water exports. In contrast, relatively developed regions contributed 73% of the global export value added but only 44% of virtual water exports. The export of high‐value‐added products, such as financial services, was concentrated in the relatively developed regions, while water‐intensive products, like agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry, were mainly exported by relatively less developed regions. Economically developed regions enjoyed a beneficiary position in terms of virtual water consumption, with each unit of export‐driven added value requiring only 4–100 kg of virtual water. Conversely, economically less developed regions consumed 140–1800 kg of virtual water per unit of export‐driven added value. The disparities in virtual water exchanges across different regions primarily stem from the differences between developed and less developed regions. Therefore, less developed regions and countries should focus on improving water efficiency in water‐consuming industries, adjusting the structure of export industries, and striving to reduce or reverse the disadvantageous position of resource consumption, such as virtual water, in global trade exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Invulnerability" of complex network was firstly introduced to virtual water (VW) research, aiming to broaden the scope of studies on water use and management. Beginning with the construction of China's virtual water trade networks (VWTNs) of major grain crops, Node Degree (K) and Betweenness Centrality (B) are employed to evaluate and rank the importance of China's 31 regions. Regions with high values for both indicators are identified as playing pivotal roles in the VWTNs: Jiangsu (ranking 1st for both K and B), Hubei (2nd for K, 3rd for B), Henan (3rd for K, 6th for B), Hebei (4th for K, 4th for B), Hunan (4th for K, 5th for B). Using this ranking to simulate the invulnerability of VWTNs under random and intentional attacks. The results reveal a rapid decrease in both Network Efficiency (E) and Maximum Connectivity (C) under intentional attack. In comparison to seven random attacks, E falls below 0.1 and C drops below 0.5 after only three intentional attacks, and the network completely collapsed after 10 intentional attacks. This highlights the VWTN's vulnerability in maintaining food supply and agricultural water security when key regions are subjected to man‐made destruction, such as military blockades or occupations. Future work should include integrating climate change models, crops yield models, and water resource allocation models to protect the key areas. Furthermore, interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for overcoming the limitations of VW research and these findings will provide valuable insights to enhance the optimal regulation of VWTNs. Key Points: "Invulnerability" was novelly introduced to the virtual water trade networks (VWTNs) to simulate its destruction resistanceNetwork efficiency and maximum connectivity of VWTNs decreased rapidly under intentional attacksWhen key regions subjected to man‐made attacks, China's VWTNs is unable to maintain food supply and agricultural water security [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenges facing the agricultural sector in Sistan plain include scarcity of water resources, inadequate water rationing, and suboptimal cultivation patterns. Based on this, the main objective of this study was to determine the optimal cultivation pattern of agricultural crops by considering the virtual water and water footprint and assessing the impact on water consumption in this region. To achieve this objective, virtual water indicators and green, blue and gray water footprints of agricultural crops were calculated to quantify water consumption in the Sistan region. Then, considering the virtual water and water footprint, the optimal pattern of plant cultivation was determined using a fuzzy ideal programming model. The optimization model results were tested based on a system dynamics approach in the Vensim PLE8.3.5 software. The results showed that the virtual water content of agricultural products in this region was 2.69 m3/kg. The annual water requirement of agricultural crops was 1019 MCM, of which 62% is met. After optimizing the cultivation pattern, the water requirement reduced to 600 MCM per year, of which 89% is supplied. Additionally, the optimization of cultivation patterns increased water supply to the environmental sector from 138 to 240 MCM per year.

Agricultural water productivity is crucial for sustainability amidst the escalating demand for food. Cereals are pivotal in providing nutritious food at affordable prices. This study was based on Ghanaian data spanning from 1992 to 2021 to evaluate water usage in the cultivation of major cereals. It also examined the virtual water losses or gains in cereal trade alongside influencing factors. The analysis utilized secondary data encompassing the virtual water content, production quantity, export and import quantities, distance, GDP per capita, population, and land per capita of Ghana and its 75 trade partners. In the last 5 years, crop water use (CWU) reached an average of 7.08 billion m3/yr for maize, 3.48 billion m3/yr for rice, 1.08 billion m3/yr for sorghum, and 0.63 billion m3/yr for millet production. Ghana's major partners for exported virtual water (EVW) were Niger, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Togo. Major partners for imported virtual water (IVW) were Argentina, South Africa, Ukraine, Togo, Russia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Senegal, Nigeria, Portugal, UK, Niger, and the USA. The Panel Least Squares Method of regression was used to apply the Gravity Model principle in assessing influencing factors. The findings indicate that Ghana is a net importer of virtual water in the cereal trade, with significant influences from geographical distance, GDP per capita, population, land per capita, and cereal water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating water footprints and virtual water into crop redistribution provides a new approach for efficient water resources utilization and synergistic development of water surplus and scarce regions. In this work, the absolute and comparative advantage of the production‐based blue and gray water footprint (PWFblue and PWFgray), the calorie‐based blue water footprint (CWFblue) and the net benefit‐based blue water footprint (NBWFblue) were used as coefficients to establish a bi‐level crop redistribution model. The mode considers upper‐level decision makers interested in maximizing food security and ecological security and lower‐level decision makers interested in water use efficiency, water use benefits and net benefits. The model was applied in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), China. The results showed that after optimization, the PWFblue, CWFblue, NBWFblue, and gray water footprint (GWF) of the HID were reduced by 23.32%, 5.60%, 17.40%, and 6.67%, respectively. National benefits were improved, especially when considering synergistic optimization, although the net benefits of HID was affected. The calorie supply increased by 9.6 × 109 kcal, the GWF decreased by 8.29 × 106 m3, and water use efficiency and benefits were improved in China. In contrast, the calorie supply and the net benefits of the HID decreased, while the GWF increased. Moreover, multiple stakeholders were involved in crop redistribution and required national synergies. The bi‐level model proved more suitable than the multi‐objective model. The model proposed in this work considers synergies outside the region in crop redistribution within the region, and can provide new insight for water and soil resources management in arid and semi‐arid regions. Key Points: Virtual water flow embedded in optimization model reflecting comparative advantageAbsolute advantage and comparative advantage synergize interregional interestsBi‐level optimization model trade‐offs regional authority and sub‐regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an attempt to understand a mesh of complex relationships among tangible and intangible socio-economic factors that turned a desert city into the headquarters of one of the mighty polities in the Middle East in the fourteenth century CE. This paper argues that proto-industrialization led to the growth of 'virtual water' that helped the city of Yazd, in central Iran, to break free from its water limitation for the first time in its history. Yazd was almost absent in history until the twelfth century, as a peripheral oasis whose sparse population lived off subsistence agriculture irrigated by qanat systems (groundwater-mining subterranean channels). Following the Mongol invasion in the thirteenth century, the influx of landless refugees changed the relations of production and paved the way for proto-industrialization whose development hinged on skill and capital rather than water and land. Sufism and waqf (endowment tradition) contributed to the expansion of trading routes that facilitated the mobility of goods and people. The qanats were urbanized, and Yazd became an industrial hub where raw materials were processed into tradable products with considerable value added. This paper contributes to a broader understanding of the historical geography of the arid Middle East. • The Iranian city of Yazd rode out the Mongol invasion in the thirteenth century. • A surge of refugees upset the balance between population and agricultural resources. • Abundance of skilled workers led to a Middle Eastern mode of proto-industrialization. • Proto-industrialization engendered virtual water as an adaptation strategy. • Virtual water made a transition to a non-hydraulic society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil infrastructure underpins urban receipts of food, energy, and water (FEW) produced in distant watersheds. In this study, we map flows of FEW goods from watersheds of the contiguous United States to major population centers and highlight the critical infrastructure that supports FEW flows. To do this, we draw upon detailed records of agriculture, electricity, and public water supply production and couple them with commodity flow and infrastructure information. We also compare the flows of virtual water embedded in food and energy commodity flows with physical water flows in inter‐basin water transfer projects around the country. We found that the virtual blue water transfers through crops and electricity to major US cities was 53 billion and 8 billion m3 in 2017, respectively, while physical interbasin water transfers for crops, electricity, and public supply water averaged 20.8 billion m3. Highways are the primary infrastructure used to import virtual water associated with food and fuel into cities, although waterways and railways are most utilized for long‐distance transport. All of the 204 watersheds in the contiguous US support the food, energy, and/or water supplies of major US cities, with dependencies stretching far beyond each city's borders. Still, most cities source the majority of their FEW and embedded water resources from nearby watersheds. Infrastructure such as water supply dams and inland ports serve as important buffers for both local and supply‐chain sourced water stress. These findings can inform efforts to reduce water resources and infrastructure risks in domestic supply chains. Key Points: Civil infrastructure enables US cities to access FEW resources from distant watershedsMost cities depend on nearby watersheds for FEW and embedded waterVirtual water transfers through food and energy exceed physical water transfers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interprovincial circulation of goods and services has formed virtual water flows between regions, which can redistribute water resources. Based on previous virtual water trade research, this study further explored the multiple dependencies of virtual water, i.e., direct, indirect, and complete dependence. This study examined the direct, indirect, and complete dependence of virtual water between provinces in China by constructing multilayer dependence networks and identified the key regions and paths of virtual water trade network. The results showed direct dependence was the densest and had the largest overall dependence degree, but indirect dependence was the most stable and orderly. Second, the dominant provinces were Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Anhui, referred to as "core‒five‒region," and the flow relevant to them accounted for approximately 30% of the virtual water. The seven provinces of Shanxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Shaanxi, and Gansu depend both directly and indirectly on the "core‒five‒region." Shanxi and Zhejiang have close direct and indirect dependence, with more than one of the "core‒five‒region." Guangdong was the province with the most direct and indirect input of virtual water from the "core‒five‒region." The study provides a scientific basis for multiregional identification for the collaborative management of water resources in China from the perspective of dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the need for water use to be a crucial consideration in sustainable development, an adequate water allocation system across economic sectors is essential, especially in the face of increasing seasonal and perennial water scarcity. In an attempt to facilitate a socially and economically efficient adaptation to the climate emergency, we propose a set of eleven socio-economic indicators to analyze the current water management. This set of indicators could help to quantify the interrelationship between water use and its economic perspective, as well as its social perspective through its impact on employment. Any demand for water not only includes the direct use of water but also its indirect use, referred to as virtual water. This is the water indirectly used through the other inputs in the production process (input–output methodology). These indicators are evaluated in the South-West Europe territory where, in light of increasing water scarcity, there is a need to orientate water allocation toward employment with less intensive water use, to more water productivity and to less environmental impacts. The results at river basin scales show that water use is more productive in the tertiary than in the secondary and primary sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the growing disparity between the supply and demand of water resources, the Chinese government has piloted a more binding and reformed water resources tax to realize the sustainable utilization of water resources. However, reasonable tax standards and their water-saving effects and economic benefits are important and worthy of attention. Therefore, in this study, we combine the virtual water theory with the price input–output model to discuss the impact of water resources taxation on the economy and its water-saving effects. The results show the following: (1) A water resources tax has a significant water-saving effect, and is predicted to save 33.12 billion cubic meters of virtual water. (2) Consumers' expected reductions in spending on food and tobacco manufacturing and agriculture are predicted to save more virtual water at a lower economic cost. (3) The collection of water resources taxes can actively and simultaneously guide water savings in terms of consumption and production. The water consumption of the construction industry is worthy of attention. The expected output value reduction accounts for 67.2% of the total output value reduction, and its water savings account for 96% of the total water savings. Other service sectors also have ample room to optimize the utilization of their water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Civil infrastructure underpins urban receipts of food, energy, and water (FEW) produced in distant watersheds. In this study, we map flows of FEW goods from watersheds of the contiguous United States to major population centers and highlight the critical infrastructure that supports FEW flows. To do this, we draw upon detailed records of agriculture, electricity, and public water supply production and couple them with commodity flow and infrastructure information. We also compare the flows of virtual water embedded in food and energy commodity flows with physical water flows in inter‐basin water transfer projects around the country. We found that the virtual blue water transfers through crops and electricity to major US cities was 53 billion and 8 billion m3 in 2017, respectively, while physical interbasin water transfers for crops, electricity, and public supply water averaged 20.8 billion m3. Highways are the primary infrastructure used to import virtual water associated with food and fuel into cities, although waterways and railways are most utilized for long‐distance transport. All of the 204 watersheds in the contiguous US support the food, energy, and/or water supplies of major US cities, with dependencies stretching far beyond each city's borders. Still, most cities source the majority of their FEW and embedded water resources from nearby watersheds. Infrastructure such as water supply dams and inland ports serve as important buffers for both local and supply‐chain sourced water stress. These findings can inform efforts to reduce water resources and infrastructure risks in domestic supply chains.

The regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) is today the largest free trade area in the world. This paper examines agricultural trade in the RCEP from 2010 to 2019 through the perspective of virtual water. And the drivers of the virtual water flow between China and the RCEP are also explored. The results are as follows: the virtual water flow during the study period was 2,576.51 billion m3. From a temporal perspective, the annual virtual water flow over the study period is characterized by a slow rise–significant fall–slow rise. It has the characteristics of concentration in spatial distribution and water resources and product structure. However, the concentration degree showed a downward trend during the study period. Then, we have divided the major trading into four categories based on whether there is a shortage of water on both sides of the trade. In terms of the drivers of virtual water flows between China and the RCEP, we have used the gravity model to arrive at the following findings: crop yields, bilateral economic scale, and agricultural labor resources are the main drivers. Our research results have reference values for adjusting bilateral agricultural trade and water conservation. HIGHLIGHTS The virtual water flow has the characteristics of spatial concentration.; The virtual water trade relations are divided into four categories.; The structure of the virtual water flows is relatively concentrated.; The driving factors are analyzed by using the gravity model.;

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Agricultural water productivity is crucial for sustainability amidst the escalating demand for food. Cereals are pivotal in providing nutritious food at affordable prices. This study was based on Ghanaian data spanning from 1992 to 2021 to evaluate water usage in the cultivation of major cereals. It also examined the virtual water losses or gains in cereal trade alongside influencing factors. The analysis utilized secondary data encompassing the virtual water content, production quantity, export and import quantities, distance, GDP per capita, population, and land per capita of Ghana and its 75 trade partners. In the last 5 years, crop water use (CWU) reached an average of 7.08 billion m3/yr for maize, 3.48 billion m3/yr for rice, 1.08 billion m3/yr for sorghum, and 0.63 billion m3/yr for millet production. Ghana’s major partners for exported virtual water (EVW) were Niger, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Togo. Major partners for imported virtual water (IVW) were Argentina, South Africa, Ukraine, Togo, Russia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Senegal, Nigeria, Portugal, UK, Niger, and the USA. The Panel Least Squares Method of regression was used to apply the Gravity Model principle in assessing influencing factors. The findings indicate that Ghana is a net importer of virtual water in the cereal trade, with significant influences from geographical distance, GDP per capita, population, land per capita, and cereal water use.

Given the need for water use to be a crucial consideration in sustainable development, an adequate water allocation system across economic sectors is essential, especially in the face of increasing seasonal and perennial water scarcity. In an attempt to facilitate a socially and economically efficient adaptation to the climate emergency, we propose a set of eleven socio-economic indicators to analyze the current water management. This set of indicators could help to quantify the interrelationship between water use and its economic perspective, as well as its social perspective through its impact on employment. Any demand for water not only includes the direct use of water but also its indirect use, referred to as virtual water. This is the water indirectly used through the other inputs in the production process (input–output methodology). These indicators are evaluated in the South-West Europe territory where, in light of increasing water scarcity, there is a need to orientate water allocation toward employment with less intensive water use, to more water productivity and to less environmental impacts. The results at river basin scales show that water use is more productive in the tertiary than in the secondary and primary sectors.

The paper investigates the influence of major food corporations on global rice and coffee markets from 2013 to 2022, with a focus on market presence and water usage. It uses detailed data from the Euromonitor Passport and the CWASI datasets to analyze environmental impacts and virtual water (VW) flows at the company level, addressing gaps in the existing literature. Key findings show that although rice sales are larger than those of coffee in quantity, coffee embeds a higher total water use due to its greater unit water footprint (WF). The rice market is less internationalized and concentrated compared to the coffee market, where a few companies hold significant market shares across multiple countries. In 2022, the top 12 rice-selling companies control 16% of the global rice WF, exceeding the combined WF of the top three rice-importing nations. Similarly, the top 15 coffee-selling companies command 55% of the global roasted coffee WF, with significant disparities in VW quantities compared to major importing nations. The coffee market exhibits a higher number of companies with larger shares of WF than volumes, with this disparity increasing over time. Furthermore, more countries exhibit high and moderate concentration indices for coffee sales compared to rice. These findings highlight the considerable concentration of water resources among large companies, particularly in the coffee sector. The paper emphasizes the importance of considering the environmental implications of corporate activities in food supply chains, providing valuable insights for sustainability efforts in the agri-food industry.

• Researching is based on the approach of System Analysis-State Assessment-Optimized Regulation. • Constructing an environmental extended multi-regional input–output model of water resource metabolism. • Proposing scientific allocation of regional water resources and regulation strategies of industrial sectors. The rapid social and economic development has led to problems such as over-exploitation of water resources, strong demand for physical water resources, and disequilibrium of water resources load. Based on the current situation of the water resources system in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, this study proposed an input–output analysis-assessment-prediction-optimization framework. A water resources dissipation environment extended multi-regional input–output model was established, and the spatial equilibrium of water resources load was evaluated comprehensively. Furthermore, a multi-dimensional spatial equilibrium optimal allocation for water resources was built to identify key nodes and sectors. The primary findings were as follows: (1) Shijiazhuang and Tangshan were the main cities with net virtual water outflow, while Beijing and Baoding were the primary recipients of net virtual water inflow; (2) The overall score for the spatial equilibrium assessment of water resource load was low, with dimension scores predominantly ranging between 0.2 and 0.6; (3) The key transfer nodes were predominantly concentrated on the "outflow from Shijiazhuang" and the "inflow to Cangzhou and Langfang" nodes. This research conducted an in-depth exploration of the direction of water resource transfers, the actual stress conditions, and the spatial equilibrium of water resources within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Finally, the future adjustment strategy for water-intensive industries at the urban agglomeration scale was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual water trade (VWT) is the trade of water 'embodied' in a product. This paper explores the extent to which bilateral tariffs, World Trade Organization (WTO), and Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) reshape the trade of water across nations and alleviate water scarcity issues. To achieve this goal, we built a panel database on blue (irrigation water) and green (rainwater) VWT among paired trading countries from 1998 to 2002. Using a standard gravity model, we study how the bilateral tariff and WTO/ RTA affect the intensity of blue and green VWT. The results indicate that, on average, a 1% tariff reduction increases the green virtual water trade by 0.219%. In most waterstressed countries, a 1% reduction in tariffs increased blue VWT by 0.416% and green VWT by 0.424%. By crops, we find that tariffs had a negative effect on VWT for the less water-intensive crops, but a positive effect or no effect on the more water-intensive crops. We further find in the most water-stressed countries, RTA facilitated VWT. As a climate mitigation strategy, water-scarce countries can increase VWT, thus reducing the production of water-intensive crops, by lowering tariff rates independently or through trade agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large volumes of water are used in energy production for both primary (e.g., fuel extraction) and secondary energy (e.g., electricity). In countries such as China, with a large internal trade in fuels and long-distance transmission grids, this can result in considerable water inequalities. Previous research focused on the water impacts of energy production at the national and provincial levels, which is too coarse to identify the spatial differences and make specific case studies. Here, we take the next step toward a spatially explicit economically integrated water-use for energy assessment by combining a bottom-up assessment approach with a city-level multiregional input-output model. Specifically, we examine the water consumption of energy production in China, distinguishing between water for primary and secondary energy at the level of coal mines, oil and gas fields, and power plants for the first time. Of the total energy-related freshwater consumption of 4.9 Gm 3 in 2017, primary energy accounted for 19% (940 Mm 3 ) and secondary energy accounted for 81% (3955 Mm 3 ). Coal was the largest water consumer for both primary and secondary energy (540 and 3880 Mm 3 , respectively), with both oil (361, and 0.5 Mm 3 , respectively) and gas (7 and 69 Mm 3 , respectively) also consuming large amounts. Intercity virtual water, that is, water embodied in energy trade across cities, reached 54% (2.6 Gm 3 ) of energy-related freshwater consumption. Across China, 32% of cities see a bilateral trade in secondary- and primary-energy-related virtual water (e.g., Daqing city exports virtual water embodied in primary fuel to other cities that is then used to produce electricity in those cities, part of which is used back in Daqing via transmission). For these 32% of cities, 73% export more virtual water than import and 27% import more virtual water than export. This study reveals significant differences in city-level virtual water patterns (e.g., scale and direction) between primary and secondary energy to provide information for cities about their virtual water inflow and outflow and the potential collaboration partners for water management.

Water demand management is a crucial approach for ensuring sustainable water supply. To ensure an effective water demand management, it is essential to have a good understanding of public perceptions of water use. In this study, we examined the perceptions of water use and virtual water of Daegu inhabitants in South Korea, with a focus on understanding their sociodemographic characteristics, water-saving behaviors, environmental attitudes, and accuracy in estimating water use and virtual water content. The results indicated that the majority of respondents were aware of the need for water conservation but exhibited only moderate engagement in water-saving behaviors. They consistently underestimated their water use across various activities (portable drinking water, shower, toilet flush, laundry and car wash), indicating a lack of understanding regarding the magnitude of water consumption. Similarly, respondents had limited awareness of the virtual water content in different products, with inaccurate perceptions of water-intensive products. Sociodemographic factors such as gender, education level, annual income, and family size significantly influenced perceptions of water use, while environmental attitudes played a significant role in the perceptions of both water use and virtual water content. The study highlights the need for educational initiatives to enhance public awareness and understanding of water use and virtual water, particularly in addressing misconceptions and promoting sustainable water management practices. While the findings are specific to Daegu city, they provide insights that can inform water management strategies in other cities globally. [Display omitted] • An inaugural study on physical and virtual water perception in South Korea. • Water use perception was investigated using online and offline surveys. • There was a consistent underestimation of water use across various end-use activities. • Respondents had limited awareness of the virtual water content in different products. • Factors influencing water use and virtual water perceptions are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]