Water consumption (i35)

Definition: the water exploitation index plus (WEI+) is a measure of total freshwater use (cooling water is not counted) as a percentage of the renewable fresh water resources (groundwater and surface water) at a given time and place. The indicator is presented as annual average values. Annual calculations at national level, however, cannot reflect uneven spatial and seasonal distribution of resources and may therefore mask water scarcity that occurs on a seasonal or local basis. The data come from Eurostat.