Increasing constraints on water resources, intensifying drought conditions, and the growing dependence of the agricultural sector on groundwater resources have underscored the urgent need to assess water-use patterns and identify water-intensive crops. In this context, the water footprint, by characterizing the magnitude and composition of water use, provides a suitable framework for evaluating the sustainability of agricultural production. This study aimed to provide a scientific basis for revising the cropping pattern in Orzuiyeh County by examining the temporal dynamics of water footprint components of major agricultural crops over the period 2007–2023. The blue, green, and grey water footprints of six major crops, namely wheat, barley, cotton, forage maize, potato, and watermelon, were quantified based on the standard Water Footprint Assessment framework, and the temporal patterns of variation in each component were subsequently analyzed. The results revealed that the blue water footprint constituted the dominant component across all investigated crops, indicating that agricultural production in the region is predominantly dependent on blue water resources, particularly groundwater. Among the crops examined, cotton exhibited the highest average blue, grey, and total water footprints, thereby exerting the greatest quantitative and qualitative pressure on water resources. Barley and wheat recorded the highest green water footprints, reflecting their greater reliance on precipitation-derived soil moisture,. Furthermore, the distinct temporal patterns of grey water footprints, particularly the relatively high values observed for cotton, indicated that pressure on water resources extends beyond water quantity and that improved management of chemical inputs is also critical for mitigating environmental risks.