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België Scholen watervoetafdruk

Where we operate

Belgium

Belgium is a relatively flat country. Most of the landscape does not rise above 200 m altitude. Some major rivers flow through the country, such as the Meuse and the Scheldt, and it rains pretty much. As a result, there is quite a lot of water available. However, Belgium is small (30,688 km²) and densely populated: on January 1, 2022, there were 11,569,034 people living in Belgium, of whom 6,692,989 lived in Flanders. The population density in Belgium amounts to 375 inhabitants per km², for the Flemish Region it is 488 inhabitants/km².

In addition, the standard of living is high, which means that consumption patterns put pressure on the environment both at home and abroad. Moreover, a lot of water is used. As a result, Belgium – contrary to what many people think – has to deal with water stress.

375

people live on average per km² in Belgium

23

Belgium is ranked 23 out of 164 countries analysed in terms of water scarcity

In Belgium, agriculture accounts for 46% of water use, industry for 45% and households for 9%. households for 9%.

The water footprint of the average Belgian is large, at 7,400 l per day and per person compared to 5,500 l/d/p for the fair share of water. Of this, about 75% comes from abroad which shows that we have a big impact on water availability in other countries, but we are also highly dependent on it. Some of the products we consume here come from countries where there is an overuse of water resources. Our consumption contributes to that overexploitation.

The climate crisis will be most clearly felt in Flanders/Belgium through increased drought and floods.

 

 

België Watervoetafdruk Superette Walter
After completing your purchases at the Superette Wa(l)ter, you will receive your water bill.

Activities

Join For Water works on the water footprint. On average Belgians use 100 liters of tap water a day. But water is also needed to produce our food, clothing and belongings. If we count all that water, a Belgian uses an average of 7,400 liters a day. That’s huge, when you know that there are actually only 5,500 liters globally available per person on average.

The water footprint is an interesting starting point for sensitizing schools and students to the water issue. How can you make more water-sustainable choices? There are games, workshops, brochures … to guide schools. GoodPlanet is Join For Water’s active partner in this field.

Associations can also turn to Join For Water for a tailor-made course or tool.

With the Water Challenge, Join For Water motivates individuals and families around World Water Day to live more water-consciously in everyday life. From 2023 onwards, companies will also be able to take on a Water Challenge.

For local authorities there is the inspiration toolbox to start a process around sustainable water use or to make a difference with smaller interventions.

A few examples of tools:

  • The “Water House” leads you around in an average house and garden and gives you water tips and facts.
  • The Superette Wa(l)ter teaches you to shop water-consciously and presents the water bill for all your fictitious purchases.

Join For Water also wants to weigh in on policy and motivate and sensitize citizens to make their voices heard on water. More sustainable agriculture is an additional focus.

 

What preceded

Join For Water has been on the move for years in Flanders, and for a number of years in French-speaking Belgium, in order to familiarise pupils in primary and secondary schools with global water issues. For this Join For Water created numerous games, methodologies and websites that many teachers and organizations used.

In recent years, Join For Water has also been working with municipalities (Bierbeek, Brasschaat, Evergem, Merelbeke, Kortrijk and Roeselare were the first) to develop various projects in depth on direct and indirect water issues.

Every year, Join For Water is one of the organisors of World Water Day@school, around March 22.

Join For Water made its critical voice heard among the general public, politicians and in the press when it came to the right to water, sustainable and fair water management.

België GoodPlanet Partner