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Links between water accounting tables and Links between water accounting tables and UNSD/UNEP and OECD/Eurostat questionnairesUNSD/UNEP and OECD/Eurostat questionnaires

Towards the harmonization of water statistics Towards the harmonization of water statistics and accountingand accounting

Ilaria DiMatteo, Alessandra Alfieri and Ivo HavingaIlaria DiMatteo, Alessandra Alfieri and Ivo HavingaUnited Nations Statistics DivisionUnited Nations Statistics Division

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OutlineOutline

• BackgroundBackground• Motivation and scope of the analysisMotivation and scope of the analysis

• Consistency of definitionsConsistency of definitions• Information overlaps and gaps Information overlaps and gaps

• ExampleExample• ConclusionsConclusions

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BackgroundBackground

• Handbook on Integrated Environmental and Handbook on Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA-2003) and Economic Accounting (SEEA-2003) and handbook for Water Resources (SEEAW) handbook for Water Resources (SEEAW)

• Mandate from Statistical Commission to Mandate from Statistical Commission to harmonize environment statistics and accountingharmonize environment statistics and accounting

• UNSD strategy is to promote implementation of UNSD strategy is to promote implementation of water accounts and statistics in as many countries water accounts and statistics in as many countries as possibleas possible

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What is water accounting?What is water accounting?

• It is an information system which It is an information system which organizes water-related information and organizes water-related information and economic information in a common economic information in a common framework (the System of National framework (the System of National Accounts) without violating the Accounts) without violating the concepts of hydrology.concepts of hydrology.

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Why the accounting approach?Why the accounting approach?

• Introduce checks and balances in the data inherent Introduce checks and balances in the data inherent to the accounting framework to the accounting framework

• Produce a coherent information system of water Produce a coherent information system of water from individual sets of environment statisticsfrom individual sets of environment statistics

• Consistent information between the water Consistent information between the water information and economic statisticsinformation and economic statistics Improved data qualityImproved data quality Derivation of a consistent set of indicators Derivation of a consistent set of indicators Policy relevance Policy relevance

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Scope of the analysisScope of the analysisLooked at the water accounting tables and the UNSD/UNEP and Looked at the water accounting tables and the UNSD/UNEP and

OECD/Eurostat questionnaires as first stepOECD/Eurostat questionnaires as first step• Consistency of concepts and definitionsConsistency of concepts and definitions

• Are the definitions used Are the definitions used water statistics consistent with those water statistics consistent with those used in water accounting? used in water accounting?

• Information overlaps and gaps. Information overlaps and gaps. • Can the water accounting tables be compiled with information Can the water accounting tables be compiled with information

directly derived from the environment statistics questionnaires directly derived from the environment statistics questionnaires of UNSD/UNEP and OECD/Eurostat? of UNSD/UNEP and OECD/Eurostat?

• Do the water statistics questionnaires collect information which Do the water statistics questionnaires collect information which is not included in the water accounting framework? Or do is not included in the water accounting framework? Or do accounting tables require additional information that is not accounting tables require additional information that is not currently complied by the water statistics questionnaires?? currently complied by the water statistics questionnaires??

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Consistency of definitionsConsistency of definitions

• Water accounting and statistics definitions Water accounting and statistics definitions are in general consistentare in general consistent

• The following exceptions exist:The following exceptions exist:• Boundary of water abstractionBoundary of water abstraction• Water used in hydroelectric power Water used in hydroelectric power

generationgeneration• Use of the term “public” in public supplyUse of the term “public” in public supply• Concept of total supply Concept of total supply

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Information overlaps and gapsInformation overlaps and gaps• Information from the water statistics Information from the water statistics

questionnaires can be used to partly compile questionnaires can be used to partly compile physical supply and use tables, emission accounts physical supply and use tables, emission accounts and asset accountsand asset accounts

• Water statistics questionnaire collect additional Water statistics questionnaire collect additional information on:information on:• Discharge of wasterwater by type of treatment Discharge of wasterwater by type of treatment

plantplant• Number of people with access to safe drinking Number of people with access to safe drinking

water and sanitation (also presented in water and sanitation (also presented in supplementary accounting tables)supplementary accounting tables)

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Information overlaps and gaps - Information overlaps and gaps - ExampleExample

• Need additional information to compiled Need additional information to compiled simplified water accounts tables. For simplified water accounts tables. For example, for physical supply and use table:example, for physical supply and use table:• Direct collection of precipitation by users Direct collection of precipitation by users • Supply of water within the economy Supply of water within the economy

disaggregated by supplier;disaggregated by supplier;• Abstraction by ISIC 41 for own useAbstraction by ISIC 41 for own use

Use table

ISIC

ISIC

01

-05

ISIC

15

-37

ISIC

40

ISIC

41

Oth

er**

Hou

seho

lds

Res

t of t

he

wor

ld

Tota

l

U1 - Total Abstraction = a.1+a.2 D D D D D D D

b.1- Abstraction for own use Q Q Q X Q Q Q

b.2- Abstraction for distribution =U1-b1 D D D D D D D

a.1- From Water resources: Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Surface water Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Groundwater Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Soil water X D

a.2- From Other sources =a.21+a.22 D D D D D D D

a.21- Collection of precipitation X X X X X X D

From the environment

a.22- Abstraction from the sea Q Q Q X Q - Q

U2 – Use of water received from other economic units

= c.1+c.2 D D D D D D Q D

c.1- Supplied by ISIC 41 Q Q Q Q Q Q Within the economy

c.2- Supplied by others Q R R R R R Q Q

U- Total use of water =U1+U2 D D D D D D

Supply table

ISIC

ISIC

01

-05

ISIC

15

-37

ISIC

40

ISIC

41

Othe

r**

Hous

ehol

ds

Rest

of th

e wor

ld

Total

S1 – Supply of water to other economic units

X X X Q X X Q X

of which: Desalinated water R R R Q Q - Q Within the economy

Reused water Q Q Q - Q - Q

S2 - Total returns =d.1+d.2 D D D D D D Q

d.1- Treated wastewater R R R R R R Q From the economy

d.2- Untreated wastewater R R R R R R Q

S- Total supply of water =S1+S2 D D D D D D

Consumption (U - S) D D D D D D

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ConclusionsConclusions• Information collected from the water statistics Information collected from the water statistics

questionnaires can be organized in an accounting questionnaires can be organized in an accounting frameworkframework

• The terms and definitions used in water statistics The terms and definitions used in water statistics questionnaires and accounting are in general questionnaires and accounting are in general consistentconsistent

• Minor additions to the questionnaire would Minor additions to the questionnaire would improve the analytical relevance of the improve the analytical relevance of the questionnaires (e.g. consumption)questionnaires (e.g. consumption)

• Should the questionnaires be revised a process Should the questionnaires be revised a process including both water statisticians and accountants including both water statisticians and accountants should be put in place.should be put in place.