Environmental News Network - Larger cities have smaller water footprint than less populated counterparts

Details: By Penn State; 05.Oct

Global sustainability is important now more than ever due to increasing urban populations and the resulting stress it can have on natural resources. But increased populations in cities may lead to greater efficiency, as a team of Penn State researchers discovered when they analyzed the water footprint of 65 mid- to large-sized U.S. cities.

Mohammad Munshed

Global sustainability is important now more than ever due to increasing urban populations and the resulting stress it can have on natural resources. But increased populations in cities may lead to greater efficiency, as a team of Penn State researchers discovered when they analyzed the water footprint of 65 mid- to large-sized U.S. cities.

“Human life on the planet has never been more complex,” said Caitlin Grady, assistant professor of civil engineering. “We're so intertwined with so many aspects of the global trade and global economy. People in rural areas are still buying food like bananas from across the world and because of this we need more complex and rigorous tools to analyze how to manage our limited resources.”

In order to develop these tools, researchers first need to better understand the urban water footprint. Grady and her colleagues set out to do just that.

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Larger cities have smaller water footprint than less populated counterparts