Abstract:
This world has a limited supply of water, and with increasing population and withdrawals, availability continues to decrease. Worldwide, agriculture draws the greatest volume, though industry exceeds agriculture in many highly industrialized countries. Industry is making strides in increasing efficiency of water use; the issue is, it is often not enough. The food processing industry, for example, is one that has a great draw on water supply by nature. This paper analyzes various decisions an industry would need to look into considering water sustainability and international expansion. The United States is a nation the must be looked at by region—some with sufficient water supply, some with very limited supply. Australia, being the driest continent on earth, would be a poor choice for an industry with a large draw on water to expand into. India has its own unique issues—a fair amount of natural sources from monsoons and the Ganges, but using the available water effectively has been a struggle. Regulations on water use are another issue a business must consider when expanding internationally.
