The　scarcity　of　water　resource　has　become　one　of　major　issues　that　constrain　economic　development　and　urbanization　process　in　China.　The　water　footprint　is　a　comprehensive　indicator　used　to　measure　water　consumption　and　pollution　that　is　widely　used　in　global　or　regional　studies.　The　previous　practices　showed　that　water　footprint　analysis　was　an　effective　tool　to　achieve　sustainable　utilization　of　water　resources　by　guiding　the　development　of　water-saving　technology　and　product.　This　paper　reviewed　the　progress　of　water　footprint　research　in　materials　industry　including　related　theory,　method　and　application.　Firstly,　the　basic　concept　of　water　footprint　was　introduced.　Secondly,　the　current　accounting　and　assessment　methods　of　water　footprint　and　their　applicable　fields　were　summarized.　Thirdly,　the　case　studies　on　the　water　footprint　of　metallic　materials,　nonmetallic　materials　and　chemical　materials　were　reviewed　to　analyze　its　guidance　significance　on　the　sustainable　development　of　water　resources.　At　last,　some　suggestions　for　future　research　on　the　water　footprint　of　materials　were　proposed.　©　2020　Trans　Tech　Publications　Ltd,　Switzerland.