Source
Source Direct source Direct sourceSources
- OECD (2008), OECD Environmental Data Compendium 2006-2008, updates from the 2008 OECD/Eurostat Questionnaire on the State of the Environment., OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Environment at a Glance: OECD Environmental Indicators, OECD, Paris.
Further information
Analytical publications
- OECD, WHO (2003), Assessing Microbial Safety of Drinking Water: Improving Approaches and Methods, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2003), Social Issues in the Provision and Pricing of Water Services, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2003), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, Water: Performance and Challenges in OECD Countries , OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2003), Improving Water Management: Recent OECD Experience, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), China in the Global Economy - Environment, Water Resources and Agricultural Policies: Lessons from China and OECD Countries, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Environmental Performance Reviews - Water: the experience in OECD countries , OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Financing Water and Environment Infrastructure: The Case of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), OECD Trade Policy Studies - Liberalisation and Universal Access to Basic Services: Telecommunications, Water and Sanitation, Financial Services, and Electricity, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2008), OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2008), OECD Insights: Sustainable Development: Linking Economy, Society, Environment, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2009), Managing Water for All: An OECD Perspective on Pricing and Financing, OECD, Paris.
Web sites
- OECD Environmental Indicators, www.oecd.org/env/indicators.
- The Water Challenge: OECD's Response, www.oecd.org/env/water.
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Other data characteristics Other data characteristicsOverview
Most OECD countries increased their total water abstractions over the 1960s and 1970s in response to higher demand by the agricultural and energy sectors. However, since the 1980s, some countries have succeeded in stabilizing their total water abstractions through more efficient irrigation techniques, the decline of water-intensive industries (e.g. mining, steel), the increased use of cleaner production technologies and reduced losses in pipe networks. More recently, this stabilisation of water abstractions has partly reflected the consequences of droughts (with population growth continuing to drive increases in public supply).
At world level, it is estimated that, over the last century, the growth in water demand was more than double the rate of population growth, with agriculture being the largest user of water.
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptDefinition
Water abstractions refer to freshwater taken from ground or surface water sources, either permanently or temporarily, and conveyed to the place of use. If the water is returned to a surface water source, abstraction of the same water by the downstream user is counted again in compiling total abstractions: this may lead to double counting.
Mine water and drainage water are included, while water used for hydroelectricity generation (which is considered an in situ use) is excluded.
Other Aspects Other Aspects Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsComparability
Definitions and estimation methods employed by countries to compile data on water abstractions and supply may vary considerably and may have changed over time. In general, data availability and quality are best for water abstractions for public supply, which represent about 15% of the total water abstracted in OECD countries.
Other comments Other commentsFreshwater resources are of major environmental and economic importance. Their distribution varies widely among and within countries. In arid regions, freshwater resources may at times be limited to the extent that demand for water can be met only by going beyond sustainable use, leading to reductions in terms of freshwater quantities.
Freshwater abstractions, particularly for public water supplies, irrigation, industrial processes and cooling of electric power plants, exert a major pressure on water resources, with significant implications for their quantity and quality. Main concerns relate to the inefficient use of water and to its environmental and socio-economic consequences: low river flows, water shortages, salinisation of freshwater bodies in coastal areas, human health problems, loss of wetlands, desertification and reduced food production.
Sources
- OECD (2008), OECD Environmental Data Compendium 2006-2008, updates from the 2008 OECD/Eurostat Questionnaire on the State of the Environment., OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Environment at a Glance: OECD Environmental Indicators, OECD, Paris.
Further information
Analytical publications
- OECD, WHO (2003), Assessing Microbial Safety of Drinking Water: Improving Approaches and Methods, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2003), Social Issues in the Provision and Pricing of Water Services, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2003), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, Water: Performance and Challenges in OECD Countries , OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2003), Improving Water Management: Recent OECD Experience, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), China in the Global Economy - Environment, Water Resources and Agricultural Policies: Lessons from China and OECD Countries, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Environmental Performance Reviews - Water: the experience in OECD countries , OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Financing Water and Environment Infrastructure: The Case of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), OECD Trade Policy Studies - Liberalisation and Universal Access to Basic Services: Telecommunications, Water and Sanitation, Financial Services, and Electricity, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2006), Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2008), OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2008), OECD Insights: Sustainable Development: Linking Economy, Society, Environment, OECD, Paris.
- OECD (2009), Managing Water for All: An OECD Perspective on Pricing and Financing, OECD, Paris.
Web sites
- OECD Environmental Indicators, www.oecd.org/env/indicators.
- The Water Challenge: OECD's Response, www.oecd.org/env/water.
Overview
Most OECD countries increased their total water abstractions over the 1960s and 1970s in response to higher demand by the agricultural and energy sectors. However, since the 1980s, some countries have succeeded in stabilizing their total water abstractions through more efficient irrigation techniques, the decline of water-intensive industries (e.g. mining, steel), the increased use of cleaner production technologies and reduced losses in pipe networks. More recently, this stabilisation of water abstractions has partly reflected the consequences of droughts (with population growth continuing to drive increases in public supply).
At world level, it is estimated that, over the last century, the growth in water demand was more than double the rate of population growth, with agriculture being the largest user of water.
Definition
Water abstractions refer to freshwater taken from ground or surface water sources, either permanently or temporarily, and conveyed to the place of use. If the water is returned to a surface water source, abstraction of the same water by the downstream user is counted again in compiling total abstractions: this may lead to double counting.
Mine water and drainage water are included, while water used for hydroelectricity generation (which is considered an in situ use) is excluded.
Comparability
Definitions and estimation methods employed by countries to compile data on water abstractions and supply may vary considerably and may have changed over time. In general, data availability and quality are best for water abstractions for public supply, which represent about 15% of the total water abstracted in OECD countries.
Freshwater resources are of major environmental and economic importance. Their distribution varies widely among and within countries. In arid regions, freshwater resources may at times be limited to the extent that demand for water can be met only by going beyond sustainable use, leading to reductions in terms of freshwater quantities.
Freshwater abstractions, particularly for public water supplies, irrigation, industrial processes and cooling of electric power plants, exert a major pressure on water resources, with significant implications for their quantity and quality. Main concerns relate to the inefficient use of water and to its environmental and socio-economic consequences: low river flows, water shortages, salinisation of freshwater bodies in coastal areas, human health problems, loss of wetlands, desertification and reduced food production.