Expert Group Meeting on the IRWS International Recommendations for Water Statistics (IRWS) – Chapter I. Background Expert Group Meeting on the IRWS United Nations New York, 4-6 November 2008

Location in IRWS PART I PART II ANNEXES Chapter 1: Background Chapter 2: Main concepts and the SEEAW Chapter 3: Statistical units Chapter 4: Data items PART II Chapter 5: Data collection strategy Chapter 6: Data sources compilation methods Chapter 7: Metadata and data quality Chapter 8: Dissemination Chapter 9: Indicators ANNEXES Annex 1: Supplementary data items Annex 2: Link between data items and the SEEAW Annex 3: Link between data items and indicators of WWDR and MDG Annex 4: Link between data items and indicators of FAO GLOSSARY

Outline of Chapter Section A – Introduction Section B – Purpose and scope of IRWS Section C – Data items of the international recommendations Section D – Organization of the publication Section E – Future work

Section B, Question 1 – Is the purpose of the IRWS clear? Overall purpose of IRWS: To assist countries in the establishment and strengthening of an information system for water in support of IWRM In particular, IRWS: Supports collection, dissemination of comparable water statistics Supports the implementation of the SEEAW Supports the derivation of coherent and consistent sets of indicators

Section B, Question 1 – Is the purpose and scope of the IRWS clear? => Some argued that the IRWS overlaps with the SEEAW and its objective should be the recommendations of a set of indicators

Section B, Question 2 – Is the scope of IRWS clear? IRWS covers all data items required to form a comprehensive set of water statistics. IRWS includes All inland water resources (e.g. reservoirs, lakes, rivers, glaciers, groundwater) irrespective of water quality (e.g. saltwater, polluted water, etc) All physical flows of water within the environment All physical flows of water from the environment to the economy and related economic data All physical flows of water within the economy and related economic data All physical flows of water and waterborne emission from the economy to the environment and related economic data Some of the social and demographic statistics related to the provision of water and sanitation to households

Section B, Question 2 – Is the scope of IRWS clear? Cont’ed IRWS excludes: Water quality Aspects of social statistics (i.e. health, gender, etc.) => Some argue that more aspects of social statistics related to water should be included

Section B, Question 3 – Is it important to have a standard definition of freshwater? Freshwater is defined as: Naturally occurring water having low definition of salt Some have indicated the need for the definition but countries seem to use different ranges China: 1g/L Israel: 600mg/L Brazil: difficult Australia: different ranges

Section C, Questions 4 – Is the description of data items appropriate? => There seem to be consensus that the description is appropriate

Section D, Question 5 - Is the organization of the publication clear? PART I Chapter 1: Background Chapter 2: Main concepts and the SEEAW Chapter 3: Statistical units Chapter 4: Data items PART II Chapter 5: Data collection strategy Chapter 6: Data sources compilation methods Chapter 7: Metadata and data quality Chapter 8: Dissemination Chapter 9: Indicators ANNEXES Annex 1: Supplementary data items Annex 2: Link between data items and the SEEAW Annex 3: Link between data items and indicators of WWDR and MDG Annex 4: Link between data items and indicators of FAO GLOSSARY => General agreement

Section E, Question 6 - Should any specific aspect be addressed more specifically in IRWS? Climate change Water quality Social aspects related to water

Questions to the EGM on Chapter I Is the purpose of the IRWS clear? Is the scope of IRWS clear? Is it important to have a standard definition of freshwater? Is the description of data items appropriate? Is the organization of the publication clear? Should any specific aspect be addressed more specifically in IRWS?