Water consumption per capita (incl. ground water abstraction) RD-1

Total annual demand for drinking water, process water, irrigation water and cooling water by all economic sectors, expressed in cubic metres per year per capita.

Partly deals with natural resources in Chapter 5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.3: Protection of nature and biodiversity, table 10 and especially section 5.4: Management of water resources, table 11.

Agenda 21 in many of its chapters, in particular Chapter 12: Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought (which promotes improved water management) and especially Chapter 18: Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources, calls for policies and actions in various areas, that take into account the vulnerability and availability of natural resources, and for an increased efficiency in the use of these resources.

Article 130 of the Treaty on the European Union (Maastricht, 1992) calls for prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources. UN GEMS/Water introduces a Global Environment Monitoring System for water. UN EMINWA calls for an environmentally-sound management of inland waters. Action plan Mar del Plata (1977) calls for sustainable use of water resources (UN Water Conference). Declaration of New Delhi calls for provision of drinking water for all. IAP/WASAD gives the FAO International Action Plan for Water use in relation with Sustainable Agricultural Development.

The total available stock of fresh water (per capita) of sufficient quality to produce drinking water and process water or to serve as irrigation water or cooling water.

The indicator presents the overall pressure on the fresh water resources of a certain quality level. Because all economic sectors are involved the total demand is pictured. The quantitative demand puts the highest pressure on the surface water and ground water resources. Of course also environmental pollution affects the fresh water resources. In the indicator for depletion of the fresh water resource the quantitative and qualitative aspects go hand in hand, because the demand always puts restrictions to the quality.

Water consumption depicts the use of fresh surface water and fresh ground water for the production of drinking water, process water and cooling water for industry and the use of irrigation water for agriculture. Of course water is also used for other purposes, such as transport by ship and recreation. In these cases water has a support function, it is not used as a product and puts no direct pressure on the fresh water resource. These functions can however put restrictions on the production function of the resource.

There are linkages with the indicators depicting the abstraction of fresh water for specific purposes, RD-8: Surface water abstraction (for drinking water, agriculture, industry) and RD-10: Ground water abstraction for agricultural/industrial purposes.

None. Reference levels for this indicator can be derived from existing policy targets, but it is also possible to estimate a sustainable level of water consumption on the basis of the existing resources and the natural recharge.

The quantity of fresh water used per capita is directly related to individual and industrial water consumption patterns. It also directly reflects any precautionary measure taken, such as promotion of water saving behaviour. The demand can be quantified on the basis of figures on the supply to the users. If required also abstraction figures can be used. Water abstracted from surface water to be used as cooling water is returned and does not contribute to the depletion. This fraction is not included in the indicator.

The indicator is measured in units per capita to enable direct comparisons between countries. Water use is very simple to aggregate. The use by the different economical sectors for the given purposes can be added up directly. Finally the total use will be divided by the number of inhabitants.

The scope of the indicator could be widened by including other functions of fresh water that put a stress on the fresh water resource, such as the transport function, the nature function or the recreation function. This however will make the indicator more complex and at the same time less responsive as these functions may implicate the adding up of contradictory trends through mutually exclusive demand for the same resource, e.g. shipping and irrigation.