---
title: W
description: Find sustainability terms and eco insights with ecoinvent.org's LCA glossary. Find everything under 'W'.
---

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# W

[Water Balance](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Balance)

[Water Content (U)](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Content)

[Water Footprint](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Footprint)

[Water in wet Mass (WWM)](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-in-wet-Mass)

[Water Inventory](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Inventory)

[Water Supply Flows](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Supply-Flows)

[Water Use](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Use)

[Water Use, direct](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Use-direct)

[Water Use, indirect](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Use-indirect)

[Water Withdrawal](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Water-Withdrawal)

[Wet Mass (WM)](https://support.ecoinvent.org/glossary-w#W-Wet-Mass)

### Water Balance

Water input – water output = 0. Actual water balance is the difference between the amount of water on the input and the amount of water on the output. Ideal water balance occurs when the amount of water on the input if equal to the amount of water on the output.

### Water Content (U)

The ratio between water in wet mass and dry mass. Water content = water in wet mass /dry mass.

### Water Footprint

Life cycle impact indicator that assesses the contribution of products and services to water related impacts on the environment.

### Water in wet Mass (WWM)

The amount of water in the wet mass after subtracting the dry mass. Water in wet mass = wet mass – dry mass.

### Water Inventory

Phase of a water footprint study involving compilation and quantification of inputs and outputs related to water use for products, processes and organizations.

### Water Supply Flows

= water supply exchanges; are water exchanges within the technosphere (such as tap water).

### Water Use

Generic term used to describe human activity involving water resources (including agriculture, industry, energy production, public sector and households, in stream and in-situ uses such as fishing, recreation, transportation, and waste disposal) as well as the total amount of water used during the process.

### Water Use, direct

Refers to process flows directly related to a given process.

### Water Use, indirect

Refers to process flows indirectly related to a given process, for example water use related to electricity production used during the process.

### Water Withdrawal

Anthropogenic removal of water from any water body, either permanently or temporarily.

### Wet Mass (WM)

The wet matter of a sample or of an object. Wet mass = dry mass + water in wet mass. 

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