<![CDATA[Water is a natural resource with a strategic role in sustaining human life, environmental protection, and economic activities, particularly in the industrial sector, which requires substantial amounts of water throughout its production processes. Increasing industrial water consumption may place significant pressure on water availability if not accompanied by effective regulatory control. Although Indonesia has established various legal frameworks governing water resource management and environmental protection, these regulations remain general in nature and do not comprehensively regulate mechanisms for measuring and controlling industrial water consumption. This study aims to analyze the legal framework governing industrial water utilization permits in Indonesia and to examine the potential application of the water footprint concept as a preventive instrument for controlling industrial water use. This research employs a normative legal research method using statutory and conceptual approaches. The findings indicate that the water footprint concept provides a comprehensive assessment of water use by measuring both direct and indirect consumption throughout the production chain through its blue, green, and grey water footprint components. Its implementation can be integrated into environmental permitting and water utilization licensing systems through mechanisms for measurement, reporting, and control. Furthermore, a water footprint-based regulatory framework can function as a preventive legal instrument to reduce excessive water exploitation, improve water-use efficiency, and promote sustainable water resource management. Accordingly, integrating water footprint-based regulation into Indonesia's legal system offers significant potential to strengthen the protection and long-term sustainability of water resources for present and future generations.]]>
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