## 1 Introduction  
Inefficient and excessive use of water could deplete aquifers, degrade flora and fauna habitats, and cause water supply shortages. Water is the fundamental resource required for sustaining life; however, with the current trends in population growth, climatic disturbances of water distribution, and the mismanagement of water usage, water scarcity is becoming a more prevalent issue not only globally but also within Australia. For example, the total withdrawal of global water resources was 4 trillion m\({}^{3}\) in 2014; however, it was only 1 trillion m\({}^{3}\) in 1934 [1]. A report by the World Water Assessment Programme [2] predicts \"By 2025, 1.8 billion people are expected to be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under water stress conditions\". Several examples of water scarcity have occurred over the years, which have highlighted the importance of water sustainability [3]. As water resources become increasingly scarce, the appropriate usage of water needs to be emphasized, particularly in the agricultural sector. This trend is worrying considering the additional factor of global warming, which is further contributing to water scarcity through the increased evaporation of freshwater resources. This phenomenon is generally characterized by less rainfall and drier conditions. This is felt locally in southern Australian cropping zones, which are affected by a severe deficit of water, putting pressure on water supply networks [4; 5]. The FAO predicted that the amount of global water withdrawal for agriculture will increase by 11 percent from 2006 to 2050. At present, extraction from aquifers has reached 100% of total groundwater replenishment rates in many parts of the world and agriculture systems are already at risk due to water scarcity [6; 7]. As a result, these excessive abstractions of groundwater have led to severe problems with groundwater reserves. Despite being the driest populated continent on the planet, Australia has the highest rate of internal domestic water use per person [8]. The Australian government initialized a number of project streams including urban water efficiency projects addressing issues such as reduced leakage, sewerage treatment practices, and stormwater capture and recycling [9]. Industrial water efficiency projects such as plant upgrades, processing or product redesign, and implementation and water recycling have also been initiated. Off-farm projects have included dams and water storage, stock and domestic pipelines, and upgraded channel systems [10]. Metering projects comprise flow regulation infrastructure, installing meters and upgrading meters to comply with the Australian Standard. On-farm projects have included drip irrigation systems, replacing open channels with pipes and water-efficient root stock. Various other steps have been taken, such as \"New Water\" from saline aquifers, water loss management programs, water efficiency audits of steam systems, irrigation network renewal, aquifer recharge with storm water programs, etc. These are effective approaches to address the water crisis by enhancing water availability. However, the smart use of this precious resource is still being ignored at a larger scale. The overall picture of water efficiency still lacks better planning of water resources. It has been proven that monitoring and controlling the water footprint can reduce water consumption by identifying water-related risks within the supply chain [11]. Water footprint assessments can be used to ensure sustainable water usage and maintain global water security. The concept of the water footprint introduced the idea of measuring water consumption throughout the lifecycle of a product or service, including direct and auxiliary water consumption values throughout the product's lifecycle. This consumption is categorized into three broad classifications: blue, green, or grey water. Blue water is classified as surface or groundwater consumed or lost in the production of an item.