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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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