OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE
TO BETTER GUIDE WATER RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Hosted by the Government of Aragon’s International
Center for Water and Environment (CIAMA-La Alfranca)
LIST OF PAPER ABSTRACTS
Last updated: 30 April 2010
Contact: Kevin Parris [email protected]
Please visit the Workshop website at: www.oecd.org/water/workshop2010
For further background information on OECD work related to water please visit the
website at: www.oecd.org/water
SESSION 2 – OVERVIEW AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND INITIATIVES
TOWARDS IMPROVING WATER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Charting Our Water Future
Economic frameworks to inform decision-making
Sudeep MAITRA
McKinsey & Company, Inc, Hamburg, Germany
Constraints on a valuable resource should draw new investment and prompt policies to increase
productivity of demand and augment supply. However, for water, arguably one of the most constrained and
valuable resources we have, this does not seem to be happening. Calls for action multiply and yet an
abundance of evidence shows that the situation is getting worse. There is little indication that, left to its
own devices, the water sector will come to a sustainable, cost-effective solution to meet the growing water
requirements implied by economic and population growth.
In the world of water resources, economic data is insufficient, management is often opaque, and
stakeholders are insufficiently linked. As a result, many countries struggle to shape implementable, factbased water policies, and water resources face inefficient allocation and poor investment patterns because
investors lack a consistent basis for economically rational decision-making.
Without a step change improvement in water resource management, it will be very difficult to meet
related resource challenges, such as providing sufficient food or sustainably generating energy for the
world’s population.
The Water Resources 2030 Group, a group of private sector companies and institutions who are
concerned about water scarcity, has developed a framework that focuses on how, by 2030, competing
demands for scarce water resources can be met and sustained. The analysis shows that in many regions,
current supply will be inadequate to meet the water requirements. By 2030, under an average economic
growth scenario and if no efficiency gains are assumed, global water requirements would exceed current
accessible, reliable supply by a full 40 percent.
However, case studies from four countries with drastically different water issues – China, India, South
Africa and Brazil – also show that meeting all competing demands for water is in fact possible at
reasonable cost. In India, for example, the annual cost for the least-cost set of demand and supply-side
measures to close the gap is approximately $6 billion—just more than 0.1 percent of India’s projected 2030
GDP.
This outcome will not emerge naturally from existing market dynamics, but will require a concerted
effort by all stakeholders, the willingness to adopt a total resource view where water is seen as a key, crosssectoral input for development and growth, a mix of technical approaches, and the courage to undertake
and fund water sector reforms.
The informational needs of operators of public water and wastewater systems
Jack MOSS
2
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
AquaFed and Chair Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) Water Group
Like any natural resource, water is only a resource if it is used to meet real uses and needs. Water
distribution, wastewater and storm-water management are real and valuable uses of water resources. To
make the best use of different water resources in different locations, operators of water services need a
considerable amount of information and data. Frequently the only way for them to have this is to create it
themselves.
Data on the physical state of water is required for a range of different aspects of the resource, its
availability or absorptive capacity. The main dimensions of this information concern water volumes, water
quality, spatial distribution and temporal constraints.
Data is required over different time horizons for different management and planning purposes. These
time horizons include daily for operational management, seasonal for prediction and emergency
preparedness and long-term for infrastructure planning purposes.
Water operators need to be able to integrate information on water resources with information on landuse and other significant activities and uses in both the present and future. They also need be able to
understand the links with social and economic data in their own and related fields.
Some examples of data sources, data capture and management systems and data gaps will be given.
Considerations for developing integrated water information systems
Michael VARDON
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Centre of Environment and Energy Statistics
Belconnen, Australia
Around the world there is clear recognition on the need for improved data to support decisions about
water management. Many countries, and most in the OECD, have a range of data sources relating to the
social, economic and environmental aspects of water management. Data are typically held by a range of
government agencies at national, state/provincial and local levels to address issues particular to their
individual needs. Recurring themes are: (1) the difficulty of integrating the data from different sources that
use a range of concepts, classifications and methods; (2) problems of assessing, identifying and
acknowledging where are there are specific gaps or deficiencies in the data, and; (3) how to costeffectively integrate data and address critical information gaps and deficiencies.
This paper discusses these three recurring themes and then identifies the key data quality aspects that
need to be considered when developing, up-dating or reviewing water information systems. The
importance of clearly articulating the questions or policy issues for which the data are to be used is
highlighted along with the need for prioritising the data to be collected and for using consistent concepts,
classification and methods to ensure on-going data comparability and availability. It also identifies the
government agencies typically involved in the production and use of water data and examines how the
different perspectives on data – i.e. users and producers of data, the various professions (accountants,
bureaucrats, scientists, engineers, economists, sociologists, researchers, etc), spatial and temporal levels –
can impact on the design and usefulness of water information systems.
3
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
The challenges of informing global policy makers about water resources - the report of
the UN World Water Assessment Programme Expert Group on Indicators Monitoring and
Databases
Mike MULLER
Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public and Development Management,Wits University, South Africa
An Expert Group on Indicators, Monitoring, and Data Bases was convened by the UN World Water
Assessment Programme in 2008 to identify key indicators of water resources and their management at
global, regional and national level as well as the data required to produce them on an ongoing basis.
Given the many different interests of decision makers and managers, it was concluded that the
principal challenge is not the identification of a set of key indicators for water resources and their
management but rather the systematic generation of a set of core data items to serve policy needs.
Currently, many of these data items are not reliably or systematically collected, making it difficult to
generate any useful indicators on a regular and comparable basis. This limits our ability to monitor the
performance of and trends in the water resource sector.
WWAP accepted the recommendation to work with appropriate partners to promote the production of
a limited set of such data items on a regular and systematic basis. With respect to indicators of water
resource governance at national level, it was recommended that a country assessment approach be
developed based on regional level peer reviews."
The SEEA-Water and the International Recommendations for Water Statistics (IRWS) –
The international statistical standards for official statistics on water
Alessandra ALFIERI
Chief, Environmental-Economic Accounts Section, United Nations Statistics Division, New York, United States
It is widely recognized that integrated water data is lacking. Yet the demand for water information to
guide and monitor water management and decision-making is increasing. The users’ community
articulated the need for a water information system to inform Integrated Water Resource Management
(IWRM). In response to these needs, the statistical community in consultation with hydrological experts
has developed the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEA-Water).
The SEEA-Water consists of agreed concepts, definitions, tables and accounts linking the
hydrological cycle to the economy. It is a conceptual framework for integrating physical information on
water with economic information. It uses the same structure as the System of National Accounts thus
allowing the integration of water physical data in a common framework presenting stocks and flows of
water in physical and monetary terms.
The SEEA-Water was adopted as an interim international statistical standard by the United Nations
Statistical Commission in March 2007, the apex entity of the global statistical system for official statistics.
At the same time, the Statistical Commission encouraged countries to implement the SEEA-Water and
4
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
requested UNSD under the auspices of the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic
Accounting and in collaboration with key stakeholders to develop an implementation strategy for the
SEEA-Water. The implementation strategy consists of many activities including an assessment of the
current status of compilation of water statistics and water accounts in countries, the development of the
International Recommendations for Water Statistics (IRWS) (see below) accompanied by compilation and
training material and a knowledge base on water statistics and accounts.
The IRWS present a list of recommended and supplementary data items covering a broad range of
water statistics needed: to populate the standard tables of SEEAW; to fill in international questionnaires; to
compile international water indicators; and to respond to other user needs. They assist countries in the
establishment and strengthening of an information system for water in support of integrated water
resources management. In particular, the international recommendations: (a) support the collection,
compilation and dissemination of internationally comparable water statistics in countries; (b) support the
implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW); and (c)
provide the necessary information for deriving coherent and consistent indicators over time and across
countries either directly from an agreed list of data items or resulting from the compilation of SEEAW.
The paper and presentation will elaborate on the lessons learnt from the implementation of water
accounts and statistics in countries in particular focusing on what has worked and what has not worked.
Furthermore, building on the recommendations of the Fifth World Water Forum and discussions in other
fora, the paper will suggest a way forward to strengthen official statistics on water and their integration in
the accounting framework in countries.
Official European Water Statistics: State of play and future challenges
Jürgen FÖRSTER
Eurostat, Luxembourg
Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, establishes official European Water
Statistics including on water resources, water abstractions, water use and wastewater treatment. The
underlying data collection is done in cooperation with the OECD by means of the OECD/Eurostat Joint
Questionnaire on Inland Waters, while methods and definitions in use are harmonised also with other
international partners such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the UN with its suborganisations.
In the past, these statistics have been established based on calendar years and for national territories.
The main shortcomings, next to some lack of timeliness, are the abundance of data gaps and some quality
issues. The completeness of the statistical responses varies considerably among countries, among topics
covered and over time. Main reason behind these problems is a lack of statistical capacity among partners
in the European Statistical System (ESS) — priorities are often with other work as the data collection is not
covered by statistical law — but in some countries also problems of coordination between different
national administrations involved.
As the current resolution of the statistical information on water resources in terms of time and space is
not sufficient to properly analyse some of the most crucial issues, Eurostat supports respective capacity
building among ESS partners by means of grants for pilot projects aiming at sub-national aggregations of
the statistical data. First results of these projects are rather promising. In 2010, Eurostat is launching a
regional environmental data collection which, in the water domain, asks for a simplified sub-set of the
5
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
parameters included in the JQ-IW to be reported for NUTS2 regions as well as WFD River Basin Districts
(RBD) and RBD sub-units.
Next to this more adequate statistical support to water management, there are other important
challenges in the near future: in terms of coverage, issues like leakages from water transport systems and
illegal water abstractions, and regarding collection and dissemination of data, the smooth link to WISE, the
Water Information System for Europe which is a joint project of three Commission Directorates-General
(Environment, Research Centre and Eurostat) and the EEA. WISE is designed to provide easy access to all
relevant European water data and shall also help to lower the reporting burden for countries.
SESSION 3 – EUROPEAN WATER INFORMATION SYSTEMS: MEETING THE
INFORMATION NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT THE EU WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE
Water resource management in Europe – accounting for what matters – use of information
at River Basin scale for a European State of the water environment
Beate WERNER
Water – Head of Group, European Environment Agency
Copenhagen, Denmark
In many regions in Europe, water demand often exceeds availability and water scarcity has severe
consequences for the environment and for economic sectors that depend on water. Over-abstraction results
in low river flows, lowered groundwater levels, and the drying-up of wetlands, with detrimental impacts on
freshwater ecosystems. In the future reduced water availability due to climate change will worsen the
situation. In the past European water management has largely focused on increasing supply, however, in
the future the solution to water scarcity is reducing the demand by water conservation and increased wateruse efficiency.
Water pricing and economic instruments have an important role to play to foster water use efficiency
and water savings and to help implement full of cost recovery, including environmental costs, as required
by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Good, precise enough water balance assessments including information on transfers, abstraction and
water use by sector, per River Basin District and by month are necessary to provide relevant information
for decision making and to help efficient steering of demand management, also economically. EEA is
currently applying physical water accounts applied on catchment level and on a monthly basis as a good
tool for broad brush water balances on European level to help to provide this crucial information
The EEA is collecting water related information from EU member countries and additional countries
being member to EEA. Next to the traditional water quality information detailed sets of water quantity
information (availability, abstraction, use, and transfers) is build up as far as possible on RBD level and
monthly basis. This data collection fuels the European wide physical water quantity accounts and fills a set
of indicators to provide better information for future policies on Water Scarcity and Drought.
As water pricing plays an important role in the management of water resources the water quantity
accounts are one of the first three important elements of the fast track implementation of simplified
ecosystem capital accounts for Europe, which EEA started now to set up. Key in this implementation is not
just the data collection of water economic information, but the integration of economic information
6
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
towards assessments beyond GDP and the integrated valuation of maintenance and restoration of
ecosystems.
Crucial to all policy relevant assessments and information collection is a consistent strategy of data
collection, ways to share data and assessment results to ensure the buy-in from the data providers and their
support regarding the quality assurance. The Water Information System for Europe, WISE is the European
tool for harmonised reporting streams, ensuring consistency between different reporting processes und
European directives, the State of Environment Reporting to EEA, statistical Information to EUROSTAT
and information from research partners and other stakeholders.
A Blueprint to Safeguard European Waters – The future of EU water policy – and the
information needed
Henriette FAERGEMANN
European Commission, DG Environnent
The Water Framework Directive, adopted in 2000, establishes a European framework for the
protection of all water bodies in the European Union with a view to achieving good quality water resources
by 2015. By 22 March 2010, Member States were required to deliver their management plans for Europe's
110 river basin districts. These plans will be the key tools for achieving the objective of 'good quality
status' for European waters by 2015 and the Commission will now assess all the plans received.
European water policy also focuses on water quantity. The balance between water demand and
availability has reached a critical level in many areas of Europe, where water scarcity is a growing
problem. Droughts too are becoming more common, with more and more areas adversely affected by
changes in the hydrological cycle and precipitation patterns. Climate change will almost certainly
exacerbate these adverse impacts, with more frequent and severe droughts expected across Europe and
neighbouring countries. The EU has therefore developed a Strategy on Water Scarcity and Droughts, and
the European Commission is looking into options to boost water saving and water efficiency in the EU.
Europe has strong water legislation in place, and the challenge now is to see how it is working in
practice and whether it needs to be improved. That is why we have scheduled a number of policy reviews
that will help us develop – by 2012 – a "Blueprint to safeguard European waters". The Blueprint will be
based on an analysis of the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive, together with a review of
the Strategy for Water Scarcity and Droughts and a review of the vulnerability of environmental resources
such as water, biodiversity and soil to climate impacts and man-made pressures.
The 2012 Blueprint will need to be based on solid facts and the process on defining data needs and
collecting specific data to highlight the magnitude of the problems is on-going. In relation to the
assessment of the implementation of the WFD, the information base will be the River Basin Management
plans. The key issue with therefore be the comparability of information in the plans given the variety of
approaches taken by Member States. In the context of the review of the Strategy for Water Scarcity and
Droughts a wide range of data is needed relating the scale of the problem, the effectiveness of existing
policy measures and the costs and benefits of possible additional measures. In the context of vulnerability
of environmental resources methods, models, data sets, prediction tools and indicators to better monitor the
impact of climate change, including vulnerability impacts and progress on adaptation need to be
developed.
7
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
The Spanish integrated water information system (SIA)
Ángel BARBERO MARTÍN
Adviser to the Secretary of State for Water and Rural Affairs Cabinet
Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM)
The European Water Framework Directive involves the integration of water management models to
establish a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, surface waters, transitional
waters, coastal waters and groundwater, in order to guarantee their good status by 2015.
Compliance with the WFD requirements represents a challenge for the MARM, from both
organisational and technical points of view. The Water Information System (SIA) permits to integrate and
relate in a single system all relevant data concerning water management in Spain.
The system is targeted to improve the relationship between the different participants in water
management by providing a more cooperative way of work with a transparent exchange of information
making available to everyone a shared, homogenous and integrated database.
The purpose of the SIA is to consolidate several sources of different types of data administrated by
different bodies. At the same time, the system aims to satisfy the information requirements of different
types of water users from the general public to specialists in the field.
To respond to the need to access and exploit the information three major tools are being developed:
•
Intranet for specialised Ministry users, accessible only through the MARM infrastructure
•
A public geographical viewer for expert users
•
The so called “water e-book” with content structured around the SIA, addressed to a less
specialised audience.
The sources of data to be incorporated are selected according to their relevance and representative
nature, and undergo a rigorous validation and homogenisation process. The information is only published
once its reliability can bee guaranteed.
SAI interacts with the Automatic Hydrologic Information System (SAHI) and the Agro-climatic
Information System for Irrigation (SIAR)
The SIA is able to join the new electronic mechanism for reporting water information to the EU
thanks to its integration with the new WISE information exchange platform.
8
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Developing harmonised national water information systems in the Mediterranean
Eric MINO
Manager of the EMWIS Technical Unit, Euro-Mediterranean Information System on Know-How in the Water Sector
(SEMIDE/EMWIS)
Challenges related to water resources and demand management in the Mediterranean countries have
always been huge. These challenges are continuously increasing, faced with risks related to climate
change, such as the development of prolonged drought and water scarcity. In such a context, access to
reliable and relevant information is increasingly essential to support any water resources management and
risk prevention policy, whether at the national, international or local level.
For more than 10 years, EMWIS (Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System) has been
strengthening the collaboration between the Euro-Mediterranean countries on the sharing of information on
know-how in the water sector. Due to recurrent water shortages and shared resources, water related data is
a very sensitive issue in the region, thus joint activities on data management started in 2005 after a
necessary period to build trust and confidence. Feasibility studies on the development or enhancement of
water data management systems shared between national stakeholders as well as on setting-up a
Mediterranean water observatory mechanism have been carried out. These studies reviewed the needs of
international initiatives for monitoring the indicators towards the achievements of their policy or strategic
objectives (e.g. Millennium Development Goals related to water and sanitation in the Mediterranean) and
the technical and organisational settings for building national systems that could provide the necessary data
while fulfilling national requirements.
Based on these first findings, and taking into account policy convergence foreseen in the framework
of the European Neighbourhood Policy, compliance of water information systems in the Mediterranean
with the Water Information System for Europe –WISE- have been analysed. Thanks to the European
experiences, guidelines, data models and tools have been adapted for developing countries to foster the
implementation of shared water information infrastructures. The System of Environmental-Economic
Accounting for Water –SEEAW- defined by the United Nations has also been used to foster data
harmonization for building National Water Information Systems.
The full paper will present:
•
Current challenges in water observation at the Mediterranean level
•
Stakeholders' expectations
•
Constraints and opportunities
•
Key elements in the development of shared national water information systems
9
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
How to consider the mentality of river basins in water resources management Critical data is needed for a spatio-temporal comprehension of actual water availability
in Mediterranean river basins
Jochen FROEBRICH1), Erik QUERNER1), Joop HARMSEN1)
Alterra, Wageningen UR, Netherlands
While water scarcity is usually closely correlated with data scarcity, regions under water stress have
the highest demand for reliable planning data. A comprehensive water resources management information
system requires an accurate appraisal of the available water resources in terms of both quantity and quality.
This is especially relevant in regions of water stress, where water availability is often additionally
restricted by poor water quality. The entire Circum-Mediterranean region is characterized not only by
overconsumption of water resources, but also by a significant release of pollutants from point sources and
non point sources. In this region river basins contain a high proportion of intermittent and ephemeral
streams which follow distinct spatio-temporal rainfall run-off patterns. Compared to perennial river
systems, the quality of remaining pools and disconnected flow sections are even more critical for the
ecological status of seasonal river basins. Pollution accumulates on land and in pools during dry periods,
resulting in significant flushes of pollutants during the first heavy rains, creating problems in downstream
water bodies and drinking water reservoirs.
Especially for streams that become dry during the summer periods there is often no monitoring.
Where official or regular monitoring programs exist, they often focus on a few regular measurements with
restricted data sets - this creates a distorted image and may mislead decision makers. Overall improved
methods are required to describe “the mentality” of Mediterranean basins in terms of water resources over
space and time, in quality and quantity.
A comprehensive investigation for the applicability of specific management options under the
characteristic flush and drought conditions of temporary streams in the Mediterranean is conducted within
the EU projects tempQsim and MIRAGE. Specific recommendations are given for how to improve
monitoring over space and time. The investigations support a revised characterization of the hydrological
and ecological system, which will support improved knowledge of temporary streams, as is required for the
Water Framework Directive and the mandatory River Basin Management Plans for Mediterranean river
basins. The uniqueness of temporary stream hydrology is the main inhibitor to simple transfers of
approaches from regions with perennial streams.
Sustainable land and water management, as is supported by the Water for Food and Ecosystems
initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, requires a reliable description of how water consumption
and management options impact the water balance. Especially in regions where the ground water resources
are overexploited, by legal and illegal wells, water consumption is expected to significantly change the
stream flow.
Besides improved monitoring, new approaches are required to visualize the spatial-temporal
variability of water resources and predict the impacts of different management options.
10
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
SESSION 4. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE PLANS FOR NATIONAL
WATER INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN OECD COUNTRIES
An overview of the water information reform in Australia, highlighting recent achievements
in data harmonisation, water accounting and water availability forecasting
Rob VERTESSY
Deputy Director (Water)
Bureau of Meteorology, Australia
Australia is facing an unprecedented water scarcity crisis and governments are responding with major
policy, regulatory, market and infrastructure interventions. No matter what facet of water reform one is
talking about, good intelligence on the country’s water resource base and how it is trending is a vital
ingredient for good decision-making. Though many individual water businesses and agencies have an
adequate view of the water resources under their control, gaining a national view has always been a fraught
exercise. In recognition of this problem, the Bureau of Meteorology has been tasked with the challenge of
integrating water data sets collected across Australia by over 250 hundred organisations. In this
presentation, we look at how the Bureau is going about this task and at the suite of water information
products that will arise from a coherent national water data set.
Australia is experiencing a serious water scarcity crisis. Although strong climate and hydrologic
variability is a characteristic of the Australian environment, conditions across the country have been
considerably drier than ‘normal’ over the last decade, except in the un-populated north-west of the country
where it has actually been getting wetter. Some parts of Australia, notably in the south-west where the city
of Perth is located, have experienced drier than ‘normal’ conditions for the past 25 years. Throughout the
country, these drier conditions have been exacerbated by a significant rise in temperature, with the majority
of the hottest years on record registered in the last decade. Over the last four years, inflows to Australia’s
major food-bowl catchment, the inland Murray-Darling Basin (~1 million km2), have been the lowest for
the last 130 years of record. The consequence of this has been severely depleted water storages, with (at
times) barely sufficient volumes to meet town water supply needs, let alone contribute to irrigation.
Australia has undergone over two decades of purposeful but at times sluggish water policy reform,
targeted primarily at institutional arrangements, regulation and water markets and pricing. Reform across
the country has been variable, reflecting the variable nature of water management approaches that arise
from the fact that water management is the responsibility of individual States and Territories. Most aspects
of water management are done better today than they were a decade ago but adverse consequences have
arisen out of the reform process too. These include the fragmentation of the water sector into a greater
number of institutions, and a marked decline in the number of skilled water professionals pointed at what
we might call ‘water resources intelligence’. Monitoring and reporting on the condition of Australia’s
water resources has also been reduced substantially over the last two decades.
Improved water resource measurement, water usage metering and comprehensive water accounting
are thus cornerstones of Australia’s National Water Initiative (NWI). Yet, until recently, Australia’s water
information base was deteriorating because of diminishing State investments and gross inefficiencies in the
way that water information is managed across more than 250 different water data collecting agencies
nationwide. Nationwide, and particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin, it has not been possible to conduct
timely, rigorous and independent assessments of water resources, seriously impeding our ability to forecast
future water availability and make wise water allocation decisions. Likewise, it has not been possible to
11
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
gain a macroscopic view of how much water is being diverted to irrigation and being used on farms, nor to
determine exactly how much is being lost or wasted. This lack of transparency, independence and rigour in
managing water information has eroded community and business confidence in water management.
Responding to this sentiment, the Commonwealth government via its Water for the Future program,
has tasked the Bureau of Meteorology with a 10-year, $450 million program to perform a range of new
national water information functions. The Bureau already provides a national service for weather and
climate measurement and reporting, flood warnings and forecasts, tsunami alerts and tidal measurements.
It will now hold and manage most of Australia’s water data, and report on the status of the nation’s water
resources and patterns of water use by maintaining a comprehensive set of national water accounts. It will
be responsible for issuing forecasts of future water availability and to commission research and procure
data sets that enhance our understanding of Australia’s water resources. To ensure that the quality of water
information is maintained at a high level, it has been empowered under the Water Act 2007 to set national
standards for hydrologic measurements. The Bureau is also distributing funding of $80 million to States to
ensure that the quality, coverage and currency of our hydrologic monitoring systems meet future water
information, management and policy requirements.
The Bureau’s expanded water information role entails the development and maintenance of an
integrated, national water information system. This includes river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir
storage, water quality, water use, water entitlements and water trades. Such data will need to be acquired
from over 250 data custodians, with an on-going update schedule put in place to ensure data currency. The
public face of this national asset will be web-enabled Australian Water Resources Information System
(AWRIS). AWRIS will be used to deliver national water resource assessments and the national water
account on a rolling annual basis. It will also enable public queries on the state of Australia’s water
resources at any time. The development of AWRIS, and a range of derivative products from it, is now
underway.
12
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
New Zealand’s policy responses to a growing demand for freshwater and the need to
underpin policy development and decision making with collaborative and dependable
environmental monitoring.
Chris ARBUCKLE and Grant KING
Senior Policy Analysts | Natural Resources Group | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry / Te Manatu Ahuwhenua, Ngaherehere,
New Zealand
and
Tanya GRAY
Senior Analyst - Statistics and Geospatial,
Ministry for the Environment - Manatü Mö Te Taiao, New Zealand
By international standards fresh water in New Zealand is both abundant and clean. We generally have
plenty of rain which replenishes our streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. However, managing fresh
water is a growing challenge. There is a need to recognise that its freshwater resources are becoming
limited in many regions that are dependant on water for irrigation and that in some areas where land has
been developed, water quality is compromised.
On 8 June 2009, the New Zealand Government announced its new strategy New Start for Fresh Water
(see:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/water/freshwater/new-start-fresh-water.html
and
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/cabinet-papers/implementing-new-start-for-fresh-water.html). It outlines the
Government’s new direction for freshwater management in New Zealand and a programme of work has
been developed to run until 2011 and beyond. The programme is jointly delivered by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry (see www.maf.govt.nz) and Ministry for the Environment (see www.mfe.govt.nz)
In reference to the objectives of the workshop, IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO
BETTER GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING, key elements of the New
Zealand government programme on water focus on a need for improved information sharing and
management, to support critical decision making. Policy-makers, iwi and the public depend on robust
statistics from monitoring data to make informed decisions about the health and well-being of the resource.
There is currently a lack of confidence that monitoring data is of sufficient spatial coverage, consistency
and quality to detect, or truly reflect, important environmental trends.
More specifically, some inconsistency in methods reduces the ability of data end users to examine
inter-regional or national trends in water quality and quantity (i.e., how widespread and strong is a
particular trend?) or produce accurate water statistics for national and international reporting. It also
reduces the ability for nationally aggregated datasets to be used for important research and policy purposes,
such as the development and validation of water quality and quantity guidelines and limits.
Inconsistencies are not limited to sample collection methods, but extend to sample analysis,
monitoring network design, the type of measurements made, the format of data records, and data storage
and retrieval methods, data analysis and reporting.
Generally, the scope of this work is to review existing monitoring methods, build on reliable
monitoring initiatives already undertaken by regional councils and research agencies and identify options
to address current gaps. The work will focus on data collection, monitoring methods and data access as the
13
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
fundamental elements of a dependable reporting system. Reporting methods will be considered but are not
the primary focus of the work.
This paper will provide an overview of the structure of the New Start for Fresh Water policy
programme and key project areas that are in place to improve the water information base that underpins
policy development. The paper will focus on water monitoring and reporting, with a link to freshwater
science and an overview of initiatives that support the New Zealand government programme on freshwater
management.
Australian Water and Climate Research Supporting Water Resource Management Decision
Making
Warwick McDONALD1, Albert van DIJK1, Luigi RENZULLO1,
QJ WANG2, Tom PAGANO2, Edward KING3
1
CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia
CSIRO Land and Water, Highett VIC 3190 Australia
3
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Canberra, Australia
2
The Water Information Research and Development Alliance brings together the Australian
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) nation-leading expertise in
water and information sciences with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s new operational
responsibilities in water information. This partnership aims to transform the way Australia manages its
water resources by delivering value-added water information products and tools based on a comprehensive
and robust nationwide water information system.
A deep understanding of the drivers and trends in weather, climate and feedbacks to the atmosphere
are fundamental to closing the water balance and developing reliable forecasts for water resources.
Precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) are two of the most important elements of the terrestrial
water balance. There is no precipitation data set at a resolution (time and space) with the accuracy required
for hydrologic assessment and forecasting needs. New statistically-based methods blend near real-time rain
gauge and satellite-based precipitation data for Australia (ultimately at sub-daily and 5km grid resolution).
Benchmarking methods for estimating actual ET will ensure the best available science is adopted in models
and water information products.
A prototype system for Australian water resources assessment has coupled modeling with
observations and provide entirely new insights into trends, drivers and interactions in Australia’s water
systems. Researchers are developing innovative methods to deal with incomplete data and uncertainty in
measuring and estimating the water balance, and statistical methods to summarise and interpret the large
volumes of water data being generated.
Water forecasting has the greatest potential to add economic and social value to Australia. New
modeling techniques for continuous streamflow forecasting are developed to extend the current flood
forecasting and warning services. Statistically-based methods use catchment initial conditions and indices
that describe climate patterns to improve seasonal streamflow forecasting skill.
This paper provides an overview of the research challenges being addressed through the Water
Information Research and Development Alliance at the climate and water interface.
14
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Changing roles in Canadian Water Management Decisions and data-sharing
– A case study of Agriculture and Water in Canada’s South Saskatchewan River Basin
Darrell R. CORKAL1 and Harry DIAZ2
1
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Agri-Environment Services Branch, Saskatoon
2
, Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina
Water management decisions and the collection of water data have become increasingly complex in
today’s world. Competition for water by different sectors, urban-rural pressures, the need for sustainability
and environmental protection, the influence of climate change and climate variability, and the pressures of
advocacy groups and partisan approaches, all make water management decisions highly politicized.
Canadian society is working to engage various viewpoints, and achieving some success with integrated
management, yet faces real challenges in water resource management. Canada still needs to gather more
water data at all scales. All orders of government are struggling to find ways of making water data more
readily available, for effective decision-making.
Canada, like many nations, is beginning to position water management decision-making in the
framework of “integrated water resource management” and is increasingly including local stakeholders in
management decisions. Roles have evolved where provincial and federal agencies are working together on
environmental data collection, drought and extreme event forecasting, and considering how climate change
may impact policies and programs and local decision-making. Local stakeholders are forming more
established watershed groups. Stakeholders, NGOs, industry, and advocacy and environmental groups are
in many cases conducting their own studies and proceeding with gathering data to advance or influence
water resource decision-making. Canadian agriculture is beginning to develop its role within water
management, both as a water user, and as a steward of water resources.
Key research findings for effective water resource management in Canada include:
•
Establish strategic regional and national water planning based on watershed boundaries (i.e.
beyond strictly political boundaries). Water resource management has to include a mix of
economic, social, and environmental issues.
•
All orders of government need to enable participatory planning, by empowering and engaging the
viewpoints and wisdom of the various stakeholders with vested interest in water management.
•
Establish a strategic yet flexible water framework that is linked with climate scenarios for a
5 year and 20 year cycle. The framework needs to establish a common vision that all orders of
government and stakeholders can adopt, implement, and measure success or needed
improvements as new information and challenges are discovered.
•
Gather more and better water data that is publicly accessible and can be openly and easily shared
by all orders of government and local stakeholders.
•
Agricultural production must continue its journey to better understand and adopt agricultural Best
Management Practices, to safeguard water quality and conserve water resources.
15
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Research Emphasis and Impacts on Water Availability and Quality in the United States
Michael C. SHANNON
USDA ARS National Program Leader, Water Resources
Natural Resources & Sustainable Agricultural Systems, US Department of Agriculture,
Beltsville, Maryland, United States
The responsibility for water resource management in the United States is under a complex myriad of
federal, state, municipal and local authorities. Therefore setting priorities, incentives, regulations and rules
to manage outcomes is a formidable task with many challenges. At the federal level the Department of the
Interior controls dams and large-scale water distribution. The Department of Agriculture provides
incentives to growers to save and preserve water resources and provides scientific research to quantify the
efficiency of conservation practices, whereas the Environmental Protection Agency develops guidelines
and regulations to enforce both point and nonpoint sources water pollution. The State Department is
involved in international water boundary issues, outreach and assistance and water security. The US Army
Corps of Engineers, under the Department of Defense designs and builds dams, levees and protects
navigation waters. The Department of Energy plays a role in hydroelectric issues and the Department of
Transportation regulates storm water and highway runoff. Many federal agencies have expanded missions
under each of these departments. All of these entities require database systems and models to better guide
their decision making process.
The Ogallala Aquifer Project, the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force
and the Chesapeake Bay Program offer constructive examples of how federal, state and nongovernmental
groups can bring together water users, regulators, managers and science to resolve issues and solve
problems. Resolution ultimately relies on facts that are supported by an information base. Information
bases must be available, reliable, and accessible. The lag time that it takes before the fruits of science and
application of technology can be applied to resolving a problem, requires that organizational leaders have
good data, and predictive tools as well as vision.
SESSION 5. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE PLANS FOR NATIONAL WATER
INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN OECD AND ACCESSION COUNTRIES
Water information portal site for more efficient and sustainable water resources
management
Tomoyuki OKADA
Deputy Director, River Planning Division, River Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan
Because of geographical characteristics of Japanese steep rivers and meteorological conditions of
typhoons and droughts, Japan has developed various information technologies to manage water resources.
Since people’s concerns are recently mounting in the areas of biodiversity conservation and projected
climate change, those new factors should also be considered in water resources management. In order to
achieve more efficient and sustainable water use, the River Bureau of MLIT has created an Internet portal
site to provide water information regarding rainfall, river flow, water quality, river environment, and so on.
Nationwide real-time hydrological data and their archives collected from 9,000 rainfall gauge stations
and 5,800 river flow gauge stations can easily be accessed through computers or cell phones 24 hours a
16
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
day. One application of the hydrological data is integrated management of dam reservoirs. For example,
seven dam reservoirs and one retarding basin located in the upstream of the Tone River, primary water
source for the Tokyo metropolitan area, are supplying domestic, industrial and agricultural water more than
200 days annually. Although being about 50 to 150 km away from Tokyo, those dam reservoirs are jointly
and efficiently operated by analyzing observed river flows and each reservoir’s water volume.
The river environment data including fauna and flora and their habitats have been collected by the
National Census on River Environment whose goal is to assess chronological change in all 109 first-class
rivers. The environmental data combined with the hydrological data are also used for calculating the
minimum in-stream flow by selecting index species in a specific river and estimating necessary flows for
their spawning or habitats. Moreover, analysis on the past 20-year data shows that the habitat boundaries of
temperate butterflies are gradually shifting to the north, which might be a sign of climate change.
The water information portal site is a useful tool not only for water resources managers but also for
the public. For further improvement of the information system, efficient data collection mechanism and
common platform of data sharing would be possible solutions.
Integrated information system of agricultural water management in Korea
Jin-Hoon JO
Team Leader of Water Resource Research, Rural Research Institute, Korea Rural Community Corporation
As water management in Korea is charged separately by three Ministries - Ministry of Land, Transport and
Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – it leads to
the lack efficiency of information exchange and management of works. To tackle these problems the Prime
Minister`s office set up “the master plan of information system of water management” in 1999, and three
ministries agreed to fix “the common water basin for water management” in 2003 and “the standard of
information for water management” in 2004. The common water basin for water management is a digital
map which is divided in 117 medium scaled areas and is set up by GIS technique, which will be used as
basic units of area for common uses of information between the ministries. Ministry of Land, Transport
and Maritime Affairs is supposed to charge the quantity of water, Ministry of Environment charges the
water quality, and Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries(MIFAFF) charges the set up an
information system of water for agriculture.
Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry for
In this way of process MIFAFF is carrying out setting up the integrated information system of water
for agriculture with a ten year plan from 2002. The total period is divided into two steps, and in the first
period(’02-’06) the set up of database for basic information was completed, and in the second period(’07’11) the data analysis and policy support systems are under construction. The total budget is about 6million
US$ and about 5million US$ has been put in by 2009.
The contents of system are classified into three parts as: 1. Water resource related basic data and their
management system, 2. Data analysis system, 3. Policy support system. The first system is the one that set
up a database/GIS for every water facility and irrigation district, and it enables us easily searching and
using data. Data analysis system permits us to analyze water resources for every water district, and we may
economically manage water use through introducing the demand-supply estimating system. Policy support
system supply the data which are needed for water using policy such as: the facilities in the water districts
and administrative districts, and network data for the water facilities in the rivers of whole country.
17
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
The expectations for the system are as follows. Firstly, it set up policy support system as well as
rational water use and maintaining. Secondly, the water situations like potentiality, water demand and
supply, and scarcity are identified in every water district and administrative district. This could contributes
to set up an optimal water development plan and a drought prevention plan, and furthermore it may help
farmers activities and satisfy their right of knowing. Thirdly, the set up of irrigation network enables us to
decide the water scarcity in advance, and it could be easier water reuse so that it leads reducing the budget
of new projects. Fourthly, in the future the demand for water related information is expected to increase
explosively, and the system will reply to the future trend and it may play a role of leading the information
society. Finally, we expect the system will be contribute to protect the rural disasters caused by
environmental changes and unusual variations of climate.
Mexico’s National Water Information System
Ricardo MARTINEZ LAGUNES
CONAGUA, Mexico
According to Mexico’s National Water Law, the National Water Information System is an essential
tool for water policy design and evaluation. The implementation of the system has required the
coordinated work of several areas of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and other institutions,
like the National Statistics and Geography Institute and the Ministry of Environment. The joint work has
helped to the integration of information thanks to joint efforts and a common language. New laws on
information have reinforced this coordination.
The information system is based on a systems approach, which privileges an integral and holistic
approach over precise and detailed, but fragmented approaches. This systems approach matches with the
UN System of Economic and Environmental Accounting (SEEA-W) and allows the clear and easy
identification of information gaps and their relevance to the overall assessment of the state of water
resources. This approach also allows for the closing of the information-decision loop, which fosters
incremental improvements through a continuous cycle.
Increasing the relevance of water statistics in Israel: Water indicators and the water account
Amit YAGUR-KROLL
Environmental Statistics Division, Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel
Among the major environmental issues of high concern in Israel is the state of water resources and
water resource management. Water resource management in Israel needs to function in a constant state of
water shortage. Israel has limited water resources and is very sensitive to changes in annual rainfall
volume. A number of consecutive years with below average rain quantities accompanied by increased
water consumption have escalated the problem of water shortage. These conditions emphasize the need for
a physical and economic database on the state of water resources in Israel.
In this paper we will review the Israeli water account, which will be published for the first time by the
end of 2010, and water indicators published as part of the Israeli indicators for sustainable development
(SDI). The review addresses aspects such as:
18
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
•
The process of developing the water account and water indicators.
•
Main stakeholders involved in these processes.
•
Methodological issues.
•
Main findings.
•
Lessons from international experience.
•
Data gaps.
•
Means of improving cooperation between data suppliers and decision makers.
These publications represent the effort of making water statistics more relevant for decision makers
and policy processes in the water sector.
The water account includes a complete set of economic and quantitative data on the water sector in
Israel. It was developed in cooperation with the Israeli Water Authority and was supervised by a steering
committee comprised of representatives from the relevant government ministries and members of the
academia. The account is based on NAMEA and SEEAW methodologies and also includes information
based on requirements of the steering committee for indicators and data.
Water indicators in the SDI publications were developed on the base of international recommendation
and specific national needs. One of the important purposes of these indicators is to monitor the
implementation of the Israeli national strategy for sustainable development. To assure the relevance of
these indicators, they were developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection who is
in charge of the strategy implementation in Israel.
SESSION 6. DEVELOPING THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL DATA SETS NEEDED
FOR WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The role of information in assessing implementation of Australia’s national
water reform agenda
Will FARGHER
Acting General Manager, Water Markets and Efficiency Group, National Water Commission
In 2004, the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments of Australia committed to the
current water reform agenda through the intergovernmental agreement on a National Water Initiative
(NWI). The NWI is Australia’s blueprint for achieving a nationally compatible market, regulatory and
planning based system of managing water resources. Its principal goal is to increase the economic
efficiency of rural and urban water use whilst ensuring community needs are met and river and
groundwater systems are made environmentally sustainable. The National Water Commission assesses
progress in NWI implementation and makes recommendations for future reform.
This presentation provides an overview of the role of information in assessing progress in achieving
the desired outcomes of the NWI and in identifying priorities for further and faster reform. The
presentation also highlights where improvements in information are contributing to promoting better
reform outcomes. A number of the Commission’s information products are drawn on and provide
19
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
examples, including Australian Water Reform 2009 – the second biennial assessment of progress in
implementation of the NWI – and the Commission’s annual Australian Water Markets Report.
The presentation provides an outline of what has been achieved in Australian water reform, highlights
the value of information to policy makers and water users, and discusses the challenges of measuring the
performance of reform policies. The presentation shows that information is being drawn on to inform all
parts of the policy cycle, from issue identification to policy development, implementation, communication,
monitoring, evaluation and reporting. In some areas of reform, including water markets and trade, more
accurate and complete information is leading to better assessments and improved market efficiency and
operation.
Assessing performance against high level objectives such as economic efficiency and environmental
sustainability often requires relying upon multiple sources of information, many of which are incomplete,
uncertain or not collected for that purpose. Reflecting on the National Water Commission’s recent
assessments highlights the need to ensure that efforts to improve information are strategic and targeted
towards addressing gaps that are important to policy makers and water users. Conversely, policy makers
need to be aware of the limitations of available data.
Drivers of Economic Information in River Basin Management Planning
Josefina MAESTU
Programme Director
Division of Sustainable Development
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
In 2000, the EU approved the Water Framework Directive. The Water Framework Directive reflected
the practices and recommendations of organisations such as the World Bank, UN DESA (Commission for
Sustainable Development), the OECD. Following the Dublin principles the Directive has incorporated
explicitly economic analysis in the process of preparation of River Basin Management Plans. The main
goal is to increase cost-effectiveness of proposed plans, to improve cost recovery as an instrument for
achieving environmental objectives, and to consider how the economic trends of major water uses may
affect the achievement of objectives and the programmes of measures.
This presentation provides a) an overview of the main drivers of economic information in water and
the impact of the EU Water Framework Directive; b) discusses how basic economic statistics have been
used and are useful in the preparation of the RBMP, c) discusses how they have been analyzed and process
to provide the economic information that is useful for the preparation of River Basin Management Plans.
The presentation build on the experience of EU countries and specially that of implementing
economic analysis in Spain, reflecting on what economic information was easily available and what were
the main gaps before the EU WFD?; What (priority) gaps have been filled since the EU WFD and how
easy/difficult was to fill those gaps? What (priority) gaps remain and why?
20
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Overview of economic analysis in the WFD
Economic analysis of water uses (demand)
1.
Elasticity of demand
2.
Water productivity/intensity of water use in the economic processes
3.
Projections of the drivers of water users and their effects in the water environment in 2015, 2021, 2027
Economic analysis of water services (supply)
1.
Prices and costs of water services and cost recovery
2.
Forecasts of investments
3.
Justification of exceptions to cost recovery of water services
4.
Proposals for improving cost recovery
Economic criteria for decision making
1.
Cost-effectiveness analysis
2.
Disproportionate cost analysis
3.
Economic impacts on vulnerable groups and redistribution effects
4.
Financial and economic feasibility of measures
Economic valuation of environmental benefits
Financing strategy of the River Basin Management Plans and financial programming of measures
Economic instruments
1.
Pricing
2.
Licensing and reallocation instruments (trading)
3.
Subsidies and conditionality
The Information and Knowledge Component of Water Policies:
The Case of Spain
Jose ALBIAC
Researcher at the Department of Agricultural Economics (CITA)
Government of Aragon, Spain
The pressure on water resources has been mounting worldwide during the last century, creating
problems in basins at global scale driven by the ever-increasing growth in population and income. The
pressures and the resulting damages have been building up rapidly during last decades, with many basins
around the world undergoing pervasive water degradation. The problems created by these growing
demands on water resources are twofold. One is water scarcity in watersheds brought about by excessive
surface and groundwater withdrawals. The other is water degradation from pollution loads leading to many
tracts of rivers and whole aquifers being spoiled, and losing their capacity to sustain ecosystem functioning
and human activities.
An important question for decision makers is the type of policies needed for the sustainable
management of water resources. The empirical evidence seems to indicate that compensating private
benefits of local agents causing damages through market instruments, or large investments to protect water
resources are unable to curtail the massive degradation of water resources and dependent ecosystems
worldwide. What seems to be needed is the cooperation of the stakeholders managing the resources, and
the policy effort has to be focused on nurturing collective action and providing the right institutional
setting.
The information and knowledge base of water policies in Spain is presented. Spain is dealing with
important water quantity and quality problems. The country has progressively developed complex physical
21
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
and institutional arrangements to cope with water scarcity and quality degradation, and the level of
information and knowledge available to decision makers is quite sophisticated. But as water scarcity
intensifies in nearly all basins, the water policy mix has to be reviewed. The key question for water policy
makers in Spain is the following: are water policies going to be able to stop or dampen down the
progressive scarcity in river basins?. The answer will determine if river basins become closed with
escalating degradation of water resources and damages to ecosystems, but also creating more difficult
conditions for human activities.
Cost-Benefit Analysis Techniques and their Limitations in Making Public Policy Decisions
on Water Management.
Eduardo BANDRÉS
Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Zaragoza and former Ministry of Economy
of the Government of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
Cost-benefit Analysis (CBA) occupies a privileged place among the techniques developed by
economists to improve project decision making and public policy. Cost-benefit Analysis also provides a
useful conceptual framework to assess and compare the costs and benefits of water management.
However, the application of Cost-benefit Analysis to environmental policy issues becomes a tool very
demanding in terms of data availability and the pricing to value a number of non-market goods.
The aim of this paper is to review some of the classical arguments on the limitations of the Costbenefit Analysis, both referring to its theoretical foundation as those having to do with the problems of
measurement and distributional issues.
This work does not aspire to make a full review of the Cost-benefit Analysis, or disprove its
usefulness, but seeks to highlight that in a sensitive area such as the environmental policy and water
management we must be extremely cautious before making recommendations based solely on the Costbenefit Analysis.
SESSION 7. THE VIRTUAL WATER AND WATER FOOTPRINT INDICATORS AS TOOLS
FOR WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKERS
Water footprint as a tool for integrated water resources management
M.M. ALDAYA and A.Y. HOEKSTRA
University of Twente & Water Footprint Network
In a context where water resources are unevenly distributed and, in some regions precipitation and
drought conditions are increasing, enhanced water management is a major challenge to final consumers,
businesses, water resource users, water managers and policymakers in general. Next to the traditional and
restricted measure of water withdrawal, virtual water trade and water footprint analyses link a large range
of sectors and issues providing an appropriate framework to find potential solutions and contribute to a
better management of water resources at a local, river basin, national and global scales.
22
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
The water footprint is an indicator of freshwater use that looks not only at direct water use of a
consumer or producer, but also at the indirect water use. The water footprint of a product is the volume of
freshwater used to produce the product, measured over the full supply chain. It is a multi-dimensional
indicator, showing water consumption volumes by source and polluted volumes by type of pollution; all
components of a total water footprint are specified geographically and temporally. The water footprint
breaks down into three components: the blue (volume of freshwater evaporated from surface or
groundwater systems), green (water volume evaporated from rainwater stored in the soil as soil moisture)
and grey water footprint (the volume of polluted water associated with the production of goods and
services). Closely linked to the concept of water footprint is that of virtual water trade, which represents
the amount of water embedded in traded products. Many nations save domestic water resources by
importing water-intensive products and exporting commodities that are less water intensive. National water
saving through the import of a product can imply saving water at a global level if the flow is from sites
with high to sites with low water productivity. Virtual water trade between nations and even continents
could thus be used as an instrument to improve global water use efficiency and to achieve water security in
water-poor regions of the world.
The virtual water trade together with the water footprint concept could thus provide an appropriate
framework to support more optimal water management practices by informing production and trade
decisions and the development and adoption of water efficient technology. In order to move towards better
water governance however a further integration of water-related concerns into ‘non-water’ policies (trade,
economic, agricultural, energy, environmental, foreign policies) is paramount. We are convinced that the
water footprint analysis can provide a sufficiently robust fact base for meaningful stakeholder dialogue and
action towards solutions.
Water footprint metrics for better decision making by private and public sectors
Stuart ORR and Sergey MOROZ
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND (WWF)
“Water footprint” (WF) refers to the water used in the production of goods and services, for agriculture and
industrial uses, and is emerging as a key concept (to rival carbon footprint) for companies, finance
institutions, insurers and government agencies. From a WWF perspective, work on WF should combine the
measurement of water used with an assessment of the impacts of this use (WF impacts must be linked to
the over-use of water, river fragmentation and the degradation of water resources that affects biodiversity
and the hydrological balance, as well as water quality impacts). Based on robust assessment of water
footprint by industry, activity or region, an informed decision can be made on how best to prioritize the
efforts and define the right actions from the public and private sector to support transformational
improvement in water management.
Metrics for WF are useful for awareness-raising and allows an establishment of baselines to assess water
reliance. However, the recommendation usually drawn from metric assessments that reveal overconsumption is simply to use less. However, a reduction of one’s personal WF or a company's WF
(through, for example, reduction of imports of water intensive crops) does not ensure that water is returned
to depleted rivers at crucial times or is returned to aquifers in need of recharge. These require allocation,
hydrology and management decisions beyond simple use reductions.
23
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
WWF is working with the Water Footprint Network (WFN) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to
develop a Decision Support System which is intended to be the next generation of water footprinting tools.
The System will supply users with the means to conduct water footprint analyses, and place this analysis in
the context of the ecological and socio-economic parameters of the river basins in which the user’s
facilities and suppliers operate.
The Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade in Spain
Alberto GARRIDO, M. Ramón LLAMAS, Consuelo VARELA-ORTEGA, Paula NOVO, Roberto
RODRIGUEZ-CASADO, Maite M. ALDAYA
This paper deals with Spain’s water footprint and offers a virtual water analysis that differentiates
green and blue (surface and groundwater) components, both from a hydrological and economic
perspective. It looks at the potential of these concepts in helping achieve an efficient allocation of water
resources. First of all, it defines the concepts of virtual water, the colors of water, virtual water ‘trade’ and
the water footprint, and analyses the impact of economic growth on the latter. A glossary with key terms is
included at the end of the document. The study then explores the different economic sectors in detail at the
national, provincial and river basin levels. Special attention is given to crop production, which accounts for
about 80% of the total consumptive use (or water footprint) of use of green and blue water resources. This
is followed by assessments of the footprints of livestock, industry, energy and urban water use. Virtual
water ‘trade’ is evaluated both within the EU and with third countries. Finally, the policy implications of
this analysis are assessed. A better knowledge of the water footprint and virtual water ‘trade’ in Spain and
in other arid and semiarid countries can be very useful for developing a comprehensive instrumental
framework across time and space to support water management decisions. Ultimately, this knowledgebased tool can be used by the water authorities to achieve a more efficient allocation of water resources.
Spain has already largely adopted the “more crops and jobs per drop” paradigm, but it struggles to achieve
the new goal of “more cash and nature per drop”, because water productivity in many areas of the economy
is already high.
Water footprint analyses have focused on hydrological aspects, based on volumetric evaluations. A
significant innovation of this work is to emphasize the imperative challenge of considering economic and
ecological factors, with the aim of moving towards a policy that will enable to balance the trade-off
between water for nature and water for rural livelihoods, that is to seek for “more cash and nature per
drop”. Water footprint analyses provide new data and perspectives for a more optimistic outlook on the
frequently-cited looming “water scarcity crisis”. This new knowledge is changing traditional water and
food security concepts that most policy makers have held until now.
The objective of this study is to assess and analyze Spain’s virtual water ‘trade’ (VW) and water
footprint (WF), differentiating the green and blue (surface and groundwater) components, both from a
hydrological and economic perspective. The research program that provided the results reported in the
following chapters was envisioned and designed with the following criteria:
(i)
A multi-layered perspective – international, national and regional (basin level) is needed to
understand and analyze a country’s water policy. The geographical analysis casts light on
regional controversies in Spain since 2000.
24
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
As water use and productivity change over time and vary geographically, a wealth of
interpretative data can be gathered, analyzed and placed in a global context (both as a cause
and an effect of the observed changes at the national level).
Agriculture being the largest water consumer, it is of utmost importance to understand how
green and blue water components vary with time and from place to place. This variation has
implications for water productivity, water allocation and drought management, which in turn
are linked to international trade.
Water is an economic good, and provides market and non-market services Its economic
dimension must be included in the kind of “motion pictures” featuring the water footprint and
virtual water ‘trade’ that we are aiming to produce in this study. This criterion is entirely
consistent with the approach of the WFD and the most recent trends in Spanish water policy.
With these points in mind, this study aims to contribute to the WF and VW literature in the following
areas:
• By evaluating both WF and VW over time and at the provincial scale, the analysis allows
for policy-relevant conclusions at the river basin level.
• By separating green and blue water components, and evaluating all crops at the provincial
level, the study enables a finer analysis of how WF and VW vary during droughts and
water shortages as well as during wet periods.
• By also evaluating WF in terms of m3/€ –– bringing the pioneering approach of WF based
on m3/Tn to a socio-economic context –– the productive economy is better integrated in
the analysis. This provides a distinctive view of WF and allows for a closer linkage
between water productivity and water scarcity, in physical and economic terms.
• Water scarcity is evaluated in terms of opportunity cost, both for virtual water ‘trade’ and
WF, which in this study is corrected with the water quality status of the rivers in each
province. This analysis therefore includes both market and non-market dimensions.
Do the virtual water and water footprint perspectives truly enhance policy discussions?
Dennis WICHELNS
Principal Economist, International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Many authors have promoted the notions of virtual water and water footprints as key considerations in
the formation of water resource policies and international trading strategies. The most common
prescription is that water-abundant countries should focus on producing water intensive crops and livestock
products, while water-short countries should focus on producing goods and services that require less water.
The authors often characterize their descriptions and recommendations as efforts to import or export virtual
water. The notion of a water footprint is similar to that of virtual water, as it reflects the amounts of water
used to produce and market goods and services.
While the notion of producing only water-intensive crops in water-abundant locations, and producing
only water-conserving crops in water-short locations is compelling, the recommendation is not technically
accurate. Many authors base their recommendations on the incorrect assertion that the notion of virtual
water is analogous to the economic theory of comparative advantage. That theory is built upon
25
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
consideration of opportunity costs; and such costs are not considered within the context of virtual water
calculations.
Many authors have extended their discussion of virtual water and water footprints to include the green
and blue components of water resources. Green water is taken by some to represent soil moisture, while
blue water represents water in streams, lakes, reservoirs and deep aquifers. This distinction is problematic,
in part, because the components are not completely exclusive. Soil moisture moves through the profile and
contributes to groundwater, while rainfall contributes both to soil moisture and runoff that enters streams
and lakes. Perhaps the greater concern, however, is that many authors have stated that the opportunity cost
of green water is smaller than that of blue water. Often this statement is made with no justification. Indeed,
there is no conceptual basis for such a declaration. Hence, there is no conceptual justification for
promoting international trading strategies that recognize differences in blue and green water components.
Given these inherent, structural limitations with the notions of virtual water and water footprints, do
the notions enhance policy discussions? Surely the notions have encouraged wider appreciation of the
importance of water scarcity and the need for policy intervention in some regions to improve water
allocation and increase productivity. Yet are the notions helpful in crafting policy alternatives and guiding
public officials toward meaningful – and correct – policy choices? Can the notions of virtual water and
water footprints mislead public officials into considering policy alternatives that do not reflect
consideration of the full range of legitimate public goals and possible outcomes? For example, will
strategies based on the notion of virtual water reflect sufficient consideration of public goals involving
employment, aggregate income, household food security, and energy security? When placed within the
context of important policy discussions regarding scarce resources and optimal strategies, the notions of
virtual water and water footprints are inadequate. They cannot be relied upon to determine truly optimal
strategies and policies.
SESSION 8. MEETING THE INFORMATION NEEDS FOR AGRICULTURAL WATER
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Monitoring irrigation season – A support tool for water management and short-term actions
Antonella PONTRANDOLFI
Researcher, National Institute of Agricultural Economics (INEA) - Italy
The paper will illustrate the support tool called “Monitoring irrigation season”, built up by INEA,
Ministry of Agriculture and Regions since 2005 in order to monitor during the year the conditions of water
availability for agriculture and to suggest short-term solutions to water crisis. Under request of Ministry
and Regions, the tool has been implemented also with the extreme weather events provoking damages to
agricultural productions and farms. The tool is based on a database collecting meteorological (temperature,
precipitation, hydroclimatic balance) and hydrological data (potential water availability) associated to
information on phenological development of crops, irrigation treatments, quantity and quality of
production.
In particular, the paper intends to describe some results of the application of the tool. Each three
months INEA produces a report explaining the general situation, the extreme events occurred (drought,
floods and associated landslides, storms, etc.), the main implications for agricultural sector (damages to
productions or infrastructures, changes in agricultural practices and productions) and the solutions adopted
at national or local level.
26
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
The analysis is also used by Ministry to improve the allocation of the financial resources of the
National solidarity fund (compensation for damages suffered by farms caused by extreme weather events).
In a long-term perspective, monitoring irrigation seasons will give data, analysis and some useful
indications in relation to the impacts of climate change on agricultural productions and practices and to
adaptation solutions.
Sigrian as a decision support system for the economic evaluation of irrigation investments
Carlo CAFIERO1, Antonio MASSARUTTO2, Raffaella ZUCARO3,
1. University of Naples Federico II; 2. University of Udine; 3. National Institute of Agricultural Economics (INEA)
The paper illustrates the methodology implemented in the context of a project funded by the Italian
Ministry for Agriculture to INEA to support budgeting for public investments in irrigation at the national
level and to evaluate their impact on water resources and agriculture.
In particular, the paper presents a methodology for the economic evaluation of irrigation investments,
based on the assessment of benefits and costs of irrigation at micro level. The activities are integrated in
the context of the existing SIGRIAN (National Geographic Information System for Water Management for
Agriculture) and make substantive use of the information contained in the FADN - RICA (Farm
Accountancy Data Network) database.
SIGRIAN is a geographic information system (GIS) for territorial analysis, planning and
programming of all activities related to the irrigation sector, both at national and regional levels,
implemented and managed by INEA. It is a decision support system (DSS) used to support short and
medium-term actions (such as water crisis management) as well as long-term actions (policies and
financial investments programming). In Italy, INEA is the responsible agency for the FADN database.
Microeconomic information on farm production obtained from FADN data is aggregated, processed
and combined with meteorological data, in order to determine the link between water availability, use and
agricultural production.
Horizontal Aspects of Agricultural Water Use in Water-rich Monsoon Areas:
Managing Information of Sectoral Demand in the Japanese Case
Hiroaki KOBAYASHI1 and Kazumi YAMAOKA2
1
2
Wako University
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
Historically, many Asian countries have achieved higher carrying capacities by paddy field rice
production depending on warmer climates and the abundant water, but water scarcity in these countries
emerges in a form of brief dry spell. The investments for water storage and irrigation facilities in paddy
field could lessen the risk of water shortage during dry spells and secure stable exploitation of water from
fluctuated river flows. The collective use of irrigation water and a longer history of property rights
establishment for water would be other outstanding features in the Asian countries. The former brings out
some public nature of water in the society. The latter suggests that the society should make a successful
27
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
consensus to deal with the emerging demand not only due to the agricultural development but also from
residential and industrial sectors according to the economic growth. In addition, the agriculture based on
paddy fields would minimize the contradiction to the natural habitat, and even enhance it through so-called
multifunctionality.
The paper illustrates the Japanese case and suggests a possible direction of water resource
management, which should be economically efficient and socially acceptable, to create the stable sources
and to allocate available water among sectors in the condition that property rights (water rights) have been
established already in the long history of customs formulation and legislations. Necessary and required
information for such management is also focused.
Because the rainfall in Japan on average, although it fluctuates considerably throughout the year,
seems to be enough compared to the water demand, newly constructed infrastructures have created stable
water resources fulfilling emerging demand in the rapid economic growth since the Meiji Era. The basic
framework of Japanese water management is: (1) in the normal period of normal precipitation an
independent and autonomous authority of each sector (agriculture, industry, municipality or power
generation) provides water in the territory based on its water rights, (2) in the period of water shortage a
temporal reallocation of water is voluntarily arranged under public consultation, and (3) when and where
the potential discrepancy between water rights and actual demand among sectors in the region is
recognized under periodical reviews, a permanent reallocation, i.e., reallocation of the water rights, is
arranged by governmental consultations.
In the latter two cases the knowledge and information in each sector have an essential role to allocate
water or water rights. The proper knowledge and information of (1) the acceptable level of water saving in
agricultural and industrial sectors taking into considerations of technical and economic constraints, (2)
characteristics in the demand for residential water such as price responsiveness (price elasticity) and its
relationship with the tariff structure, the level of consumption by income class and so forth, (3) future
prospects of water demand from each sector particularly in the case of water rights arrangements, and (4)
future prospects of precipitation patterns, would be needed by basin. They are still to be accumulated and
the exchange of them among sectors should be more effective and transparent. The paper focuses on the
generic features in water demand in agricultural and residential sectors and how the above four information
could be utilized to achieve an efficient allocation of water and water rights in accordance with the actual
cases of Japanese experiences.
Long term monitoring of agricultural dominated catchment - Experiences from the
Norwegian Agricultural Monitoring programme (JOVA)
Johannes DEELSTRA
Line Meinert Rød. Bioforsk, Norway
The Agricultural Environmental Monitoring Programme (JOVA) in Norway monitors and assesses
nutrient – and soil loss from small agricultural dominated catchments. One of the major objectives is to
document the effect of different agricultural production systems and site – specific characteristics on
erosion and nutrient losses to surface waters and to advice local and central policymakers about
agricultural production systems and their environmental effects. The programme is funded by the
Norwegian Agricultural Authority and has been in operation since 1992 in 9 catchments, varying in size
from 1- 20 km2, representing different agricultural practices, climatological, topographical and geo28
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
hydrological conditions. The core of the monitoring activities consists of discharge measurement and water
sampling, providing data for nutrient load calculation. The total runoff is measured at the catchment outlet
using a discharge measurement structure with a known head – discharge relation in combination with a
data-logger. Composite volume proportional water samples are collected such that water sampling is
initiated each time a preset volume of water has passed the monitoring station. Climatic data are collected
at the catchment but are also obtained from nearby climatological stations. Information on management
practices within the catchments is derived from different sources. For the larger part of the catchments,
data on farming practices are available on an annual basis. Through yearly questionnaires, the farmers
provide information on management practices for individual farmer fields. The farmer field is a
management unit and varies in size from 1 – 20 ha. The information consist of the crop type and sowing
date, amount, type and date of fertiliser application, harvesting date, crop yield, and date and type of soil
tillage operations. For the two largest catchments, the information is obtained from Statistics Norway,
providing information only at the level of the farm. Runoff, nutrient and soil loss is mainly generated after
the growing season from September – April. Large differences exist between catchments, mainly due to the
differences in climatological conditions representative for the catchments. In addition, differences in
nutrient – and soil loss are to a large degree influenced by cropping pattern, fertilizer application and
tillage operations. For the individual catchments also large yearly variations in runoff, nutrient – and soil
loss occur, mainly due to the annual variations in precipitation and temperature. The Norwegian soils are in
general intensively artificially drained and the subsurface drainage system has a major influence on runoff
and nutrient loss generation. Nitrogen loss is mainly occurring as a result of leaching through the soil to the
subsurface drainage system, providing a pathway for nitrogen to surface water. Compared to nitrogen,
processes leading to phosphorous loss are quite different. Soil erosion is a major source of phosphorous
loss from arable land, in which soil particles and phosphorous are transported via surface runoff, but in
some cases also as macropore flow to the tile drain systems. Erosion occurs mainly during the period from
late autumn until spring and overland flow, due to saturation from below, is a major reason. In addition is
erosion is caused by a combination of processes related to freeze/thaw periods combined with rain and/or
snowmelt. Accurate measurement of nutrient – and soil loss at the catchment scale requires reliable and
precise data on concentration as well as discharge. The methodology used in the JOVA programme is a
compromise between costs (e.g. equipment and operation & maintenance), end-users demand (e.g.
researchers, managers, public authorities) and site specific conditions (catchment size, topography, channel
characteristics, climatological conditions). The JOVA programme is integrated into existing national
networks and provides, on a yearly basis, relevant data to comply with both national and international
obligations. At national level the results are reported to and discussed with local and central agricultural
and environmental authorities. The data are also used to obtain the total annual nutrient load from
Norwegian agriculture to the North Sea, which is part of an obligatory reporting to the OSPAR
commission. The programme also provides important input to the implementation of the Water Framework
Directive in Norway. The JOVA data are extensively used in calibration and validation of models for the
simulation of nutrient and soil loss and when necessary additional measurements are carried out to support
these activities. Due to the large amount of data available, the catchments often form a core element in
research projects and are presently becoming an important asset in studies related to climate change effects
on nutrient and soil loss from agricultural dominated catchments.
29
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
SESSION 9. MEETING INFORMATION NEEDS OF WATER RESOURCE DECISION MAKERS
THROUGH IMPROVING INSTITUTIONAL COHERENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Supporting capacity building in data administration and water information system to
improve national and transboundary water resources management
Paul HAENER
International Office for Water (IOWater/OIEau)
Easy access to information on the status and evolution of water resources and uses is one of the keys
to a successful water policy: water resource managers need to be able to get hold of reliable, up-to-date and
relevant information on issues such as regulations, planning, risk management and informing the public.
The main issue is that this information is often dispersed, heterogeneous, incomplete, of low quality
and not easily accessible ... and that it is rarely comparable and adapted to the prerequisites for
objective decision-making. Moreover, it is a fact that the necessary data are generally produced by
various organizations having their own needs and procedures for data management and that there is a
usually a lack common willing and/or framework for exchanging, gathering, standardizing, summarizing
and for capitalizing it among them.
Thus, the sound governance of water issues often supposes to develop an appropriate organisational
and technical framework for the production and the dissemination of information that meets the
expectations of the main information users.
This presentation introduces some regional and transboundary basin level study cases aiming to develop
the capacities of the partners for water data management, sharing and dissemination, and where IOWater is
acting as project coordinator (IOWater is a none profit organisation with mission of public interest aiming
to reinforce exchange of experience in water the management sector, among other insuring the secretariat
of the International basin organisation networks and providing support at national and international level
on data management and water information system development). It point out the interest:
•
To develop partnership networks and agreements between services and institutions willing to
share information with a common objective ;
•
To assess the legal and organisational constraints and the real needs of the partners related to this
objective ;
•
To develop a participative inventory of existing data and information resources bases on online
catalogues of data sources (metadata catalogues)
•
To initiate national and basin and/ or thematic data master plans
•
To organise comparable data exchanges using interoperable information systems (with common
exchange language and formats, etc.);
•
To look for an optimal use of the latest information technologies (web portal, network of
services, GIS and web mapping, …).
30
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
Consequences of an increasing environmental complexity on data and information flows
Rudy VANNEVEL
Flemish Environment Agency
The increasing complexity of environmental data and information flows is a result of new
environmental issues and IT developments. Therefore, policy and management result at present mostly in
additional data needs and appropriate technical tools. Considering the prominent role of the international
level, global environmental issues may have significant consequences on both the organisational structure
of national authorities and the thematic integration. The latter may require a new or broader conceptual
framework, suitable for the analysis of complex processes. Keywords in those processes are
implementation, integration and harmonisation. In order to deliver reliable data, the whole structure of data
and information flows, analysis of data elements and the relevance of data must be transparent. A number
of examples, as experienced at regional, national and international level, illustrates that there are still a lot
of gaps and problems. On the other hand, major investments have been made in the past years, resulting in
a broad experience and knowledge, large data sets and improved data flows. The most important
bottlenecks at national level are communication about international affairs, the shortage of time to get new
requirements implemented and the need for additional human and financial resources.
The status and prospects of hydro-meteorological data collection and sharing globally
Vladimir SMAKHTIN
International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Observed hydrological and meteorological data are the bases on which the progress in hydrological science
and practice depends. Improvement in the management of water resources globally will not come with
better hydrological models alone, in the absence of improved data collection, because we cannot manage
what we do not measure. Understanding of hydrological systems and our ability to simulate them
significantly progressed over the last 20 years. At the same time, hydrometeorological data collection and
sharing lags behind. Many countries and regions of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia remain
poorly gauged. There are signs of declining observational networks. The quality of data collected in
developing countries is often very poor and access to available data in many countries is limited due to
institutional or political barriers. Multiple global change drivers urgently require revisiting the issue of
hydrological data collection and sharing, firmly putting it on research and political agenda and significantly
accelerating the improvement of its multiple aspects – from research to implementation. Improved
hydrological data collection and sharing globally directly contributes to protection of life and property,
safeguarding the environment, international cooperation and sustainable development. The benefit to cost
ratios of hydrological data for various uses (e.g. water infrastructure design, water resources planning,
flood forecasting) range from 4 to 21. There are no studies yet that evaluated the worth of hydrological
data with respect to sustainable development, which implies that the data value is higher. Despite this
understanding and continuing efforts of global hydrological community to improve data collection and
sharing, the issues of data shortage mentioned in the beginning prevail. Observational networks continue to
decline. The impacts of the WMO resolutions on data sharing of 1995 and 1999, signed by all WMO
member states, are unknown. Similarly, the role and efficacy of hydrometeorological data sharing
mechanisms in the hundreds of basin level trans-boundary water agreements that are currently in force
around the world is largely unclear. It is also unlikely that global water resources community is fully aware
of the above documents, or of what has been achieved in general at the intergovernmental level in
31
OECD WORKSHOP:
IMPROVING THE INFORMATION BASE TO BETTER
GUIDE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DECISION MAKING
Zaragoza, Spain, 4-7 MAY, 2010
hydrometeorological data sharing. The key issues related to data sharing, reflected in the mentioned
resolutions, have not changed in the last decade. The paper looks into the above issues in detail, provide
information on the decline of the observational infrastructure globally, reviews the existing data sharing
agreements and initiatives, and examines possible measures to improve data collection and sharing
mechanisms, ranging from informal or semi-formal data sharing arrangements, through a move towards an
international binding protocol on hydrometeorological data sharing, to the potential of new methods of data
collection such as remote sensing.
32