Page 101 - U4SSC KPIs Verification Manual - A guide for verifiers

Dimension Environment
Sub-Dimension Environment

Category Water and Sanitation
KPI Name Freshwater Consumption
KPI No. EN: EN: WS: 3C Type: Core Type: Sustainable

Definition / Freshwater consumption
Description

Rationale / The purpose of this indicator is to show the degree to which total freshwater
Interpretation / resources are being exploited to meet the country's water demand. It is a measure
Benchmarking of a country's pressure on its water resources and, therefore, on the sustainability of
its water use.
The indicator shows the extent to which water resources are already used, and the
need for adjusted supply and demand management policies. It can also give an
indication of increasing competition and conflict surrounding freshwater scarcity.

Increased water scarcity, measured by an increase in the value of the indicator, has
negative effects on the sustainability of the natural resources base and subsequent
negative effects on economic development. On the other hand, very low values of
the indicator can indicate that there still is potential for increase in water use in a
sustainable way.
“Water withdrawals, or water abstractions, are defined as freshwater taken from
ground or surface water sources, either permanently or temporarily, and conveyed
to a place of use. If the water is returned to a surface water source, abstraction
of the same water by the downstream user is counted again in compiling total
abstractions: this may lead to double counting. The data include abstractions for
public water supply, irrigation, industrial processes and cooling of electric power
plants. Mine water and drainage water are included, whereas water used for
hydroelectricity generation is normally excluded. This indicator is measured in m 3
per capita (a cubic meter is the equivalent of one thousand 1 litre bottles)”. (OECD)
Only 3 per cent of the water in the world is freshwater. Depending on the location
of cities, water for consumption can be derived from a variety of sources.
Higher percentage indicates a higher level of consumption from freshwater
sources.

Source(s) NOTE 1 – Millennium Development Goals Indicators. Retrieved from <https://
unstats .un .org/ UNSD/ MDG/ Metadata .aspx ?IndicatorId = 0 & SeriesId = 768>
NOTE 2 – Proportion of Total Water Resources Used. Retrieved from <http:// www
.un .org/ esa/ sustdev/ natlinfo/ indicators/ methodology _sheets/ freshwater/ total
_water _resources _used .pdf>
NOTE 3 – Precipitation Measurement Missions. Retrieved from <https:// pmm .nasa
.gov/ applications/ freshwater -availability>
NOTE 4 – OECD. Water Withdrawals. Retrieved from <https:// data .oecd .org/ water/
water -withdrawals .htm>

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