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Many individuals and organisations have asked the Water Footprint Network for a manual that contains a complete, consistent and up-to-date overview of the method of water footprint assessment. This report offers such a manual. It covers a comprehensive set of methods for water footprint accounting. It shows how water footprints cane be calculated for individual processes and products, as well as for consumers, nations and businesses. Besides, the report includes methods for water footprint sustainability assessment and a library of water footprint response options. This manual has been prepared by the authors as requested by the Water Footprint Network and serves as the water footprint guidelines promoted by the WFN.

The current manual is a first version. It will be a living document, requiring frequent updates and improvement. Since all over the world research in this area is rapidly developing and given that recently various pilot studies on water footprint assessment have started and that many others are expected to follow, we anticipate that the document will need an update in one year time from now. In order to safeguard optimal learning from the various ongoing practical water footprint pilot projects and from expected new scientific publications, the Water Footprint Network plans to organize the production of the second version of the manual along the following process: