Water saving is a somewhat neglected issue compared with other concerns such as reducing carbon emissions, reports the Ecologist.

Arjen Y Hoekstra writes for the publication that, while individuals, organisations and entire governments are aware of the importance of carbon concerns, many fail to consider water saving to the same degree, if at all.

But he adds: "If people are considering reducing their water footprint, they need to look at their diet rather than at their water use in the kitchen, bathroom or garden."

Earlier this year, residents in the north-west were hit with a hose pipe ban as United Utilities looked to retain what stocks of the precious liquid were left in its reservoirs.

However, Mr Hoekstra argues that only five per cent of water consumption takes place in domestic properties and ten per cent in industrial settings.

The remaining 85 per cent, he claims, can be accounted for by agriculture - with meat costing more water per calorie to produce than vegetative crops.