1 Training Session on the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) for the Arab Gulf Countries August 25-28, 2008 UN House- Beirut-Lebanon International Recommendations for Water Statistics (IRWS) Training Session on the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) for the Arab Gulf Countries August 25-28, 2008 UN House- Beirut-Lebanon Michael Vardon and Jeremy Webb United Nations Statistics Division

Background The 38 th Session UN Statistical Commission adopted the SEEAW as an interim international statistical standard in March 2007 and a SEEAW implementation strategy was developed included in the UNCEEA report to the 39 th Session of UN Statistical Commission.The 38 th Session UN Statistical Commission adopted the SEEAW as an interim international statistical standard in March 2007 and a SEEAW implementation strategy was developed included in the UNCEEA report to the 39 th Session of UN Statistical Commission.

Background, continued The implementation strategy requires the development of guidance materials to enable countries to implement the SEEAW.The implementation strategy requires the development of guidance materials to enable countries to implement the SEEAW. The IRWS will provide this guidance.The IRWS will provide this guidance. UNCEEA approved the process for the development and publication of IRWS at its June 2008 meeting ea/meetings/UNCEEA_3_19.pdfUNCEEA approved the process for the development and publication of IRWS at its June 2008 meeting ea/meetings/UNCEEA_3_19.pdf ea/meetings/UNCEEA_3_19.pdf ea/meetings/UNCEEA_3_19.pdf

SEEAW, IRWS and compilation guidelines The IRWS is being developed by UNSD in accordance with the SEEAW implementation strategyThe IRWS is being developed by UNSD in accordance with the SEEAW implementation strategy The IRWS will provide material to enable countries to produce the SEEAW standard tables, fill in international questionnaires and derive commonly used water indicatorsThe IRWS will provide material to enable countries to produce the SEEAW standard tables, fill in international questionnaires and derive commonly used water indicators After IRWS is completed more detailed compilation guidelines can be prepared as part of a knowledge-based platform, building on the existing material and the UNSD website (e.g. the searchable archive).After IRWS is completed more detailed compilation guidelines can be prepared as part of a knowledge-based platform, building on the existing material and the UNSD website (e.g. the searchable archive).

Outline of IRWS PART I Chapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Main concepts and the SEEAW Chapter 3: Economic units Chapter 4: Data items PART II Chapter 5: Data collection strategy Chapter 6: Data sources and methods Data quality and metadata Chapter 7: Data quality and metadata Chapter 8: Dissemination Chapter 9: 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 Annex 4: Data quality assessment framework International standard General guidance Compilation guidelines available later

Structure, coding and definition of data items Similar data items are groupedSimilar data items are grouped Physical and monetaryPhysical and monetary Stocks and flowsStocks and flows Data items are coded by letters and numbersData items are coded by letters and numbers Each data item is definedEach data item is defined

Data items Physical data itemsPhysical data items Inland water resource stocksInland water resource stocks Flows of water into and out of the territoryFlows of water into and out of the territory Natural transfers between inland water resourcesNatural transfers between inland water resources Flows of water from the environment to the economyFlows of water from the environment to the economy Flows of water within the economyFlows of water within the economy Flows of water from the economy to the environmentFlows of water from the economy to the environment Losses in distributionLosses in distribution Flows of waterborne emissions within the economyFlows of waterborne emissions within the economy Flows of waterborne emissions from the economy to the environmentFlows of waterborne emissions from the economy to the environment

Data items, continued Monetary data itemsMonetary data items Economic flows related to water supply and sewerageEconomic flows related to water supply and sewerage Water supply and sewerage infrastructureWater supply and sewerage infrastructure Cost of water supply and sewerage (for own use)Cost of water supply and sewerage (for own use) Tariffs and charges for water supply and sewerageTariffs and charges for water supply and sewerage Population data itemsPopulation data items Type of water supplyType of water supply Type of toilet and sewerage disposalType of toilet and sewerage disposal

Example of data item grouping: Flows of water from the environment to the economy

Example definition: Abstraction of water (E.) Abstraction of water (E.) is the volume of water that is removed or collected by economic units directly from the environment. The abstraction of water is disaggregated by the source of water: inland water resources (E.1.) and other sources (E.2). Brackish and saline water abstracted for desalinisation from the sea, inland surface water or groundwater, are recorded as abstraction from the sea (E.2.2), abstraction of water from surface water (E.1.1.) and abstraction of water from groundwater (E.1.2). In some cases it may be useful to disaggregate the water sources by salinity class.

SEEAW, IRWS and indicators SEEAW has an annex on indicators that maps the SEEAW to the indicators used in the 2 nd WWAPSEEAW has an annex on indicators that maps the SEEAW to the indicators used in the 2 nd WWAP SEEAW has a chapter on policy uses, which provides examples of the use of SEEAW for developing policy relevant indicatorsSEEAW has a chapter on policy uses, which provides examples of the use of SEEAW for developing policy relevant indicators IRWS will have a chapter on indicators that will provide general guidance on the characteristics, construction and use of indicators. This chapter will be supported by an annex mapping the IRWS to commonly used indicators, including those of FAO and WWAP.IRWS will have a chapter on indicators that will provide general guidance on the characteristics, construction and use of indicators. This chapter will be supported by an annex mapping the IRWS to commonly used indicators, including those of FAO and WWAP.

Link to international questionnaires UNSD, Eurostat and OECD plan to fully harmonise their questionnaires with SEEAW.UNSD, Eurostat and OECD plan to fully harmonise their questionnaires with SEEAW. See minutes of UNCEEA meeting for June 2007:See minutes of UNCEEA meeting for June 2007: tings/UNCEEA_2_4.pdf ) FAO is involved in the development of SEEAW. A concordance table of IRWS data items to “Aquastat” variables is planned.

Timetable 2008 July – August1 st Draft circulated by UNSD for review by reference group 2008 September-October2 nd Draft circulated by UNSD in preparation for an Expert Group Meeting st week of NovemberExpert Group Meeting 2008 November – December3 rd Draft prepared 2008 December – 2009 January 3 rd Draft circulated for global consultation 2009 February3 rd Draft and comments on it submitted to UNSC for review upon recommendation of UNCEEA 2009 March – MayFinal Draft prepared 2009 MayFinal Draft submitted to Bureau of UNSC for adoption upon recommendation by the Bureau of UNCEEA

Contact details Michael Vardon United Nations Statistics Division New York USA Room DC Phone: Fax: Jeremy Webb United Nations Statistics Division New York USA Room DC Phone: Fax: