Water Use - Total Water Withdrawal

Annual gross quantity of water produced and used for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes. It does not include other in situ-uses :energy, mining, recreation, navigation, fisheries and the environment, which are typically non consumptive uses of water.

The typology of water use is independent from the source of water. Demands are covered by water productions : withdrawals from natural sources, fossil water abstraction ( non-renewable production), non conventional water productions ( reuse, desalination). The use of desalinated and treated wastewater is thus included. There are also referred to as non-conventional sources of water.

Total Water Use = Agricultural Water Use+ Domestic Water Use+ Industrial Water Use. Some country, may use 'water withdrawal' when speaking about "water use" ; however it is not correct when non conventional waters are used (water withdrawal is then lower than water use).