1. Towards a Water Scarcity and Drought Indicator System (WSDiS)
Maggie Kossida - Ifigeneia Koutiva - Christos Makropoulos
National Technical University of Athens

2. Objectives of a WSDiS
Reliable information base appropriate temporal and spatial resolution) required for decision-making
Presentation of an annual EU assessment, based on agreed indices, indicators and data provided by MS and stakeholders to the COM or EEA on a yearly basis
a basis for assessment of WS conditions taking into account both demand, supply and availability issues (ie both socioeconomic and environmental dimensions)

3. A framework for Drought and Water Scarcity Indicators
Capturing the reality of the Water Scarcity situation
A DPSIR Framework
Methodology for trialing the approach and logical testing: An sectors-based approach
Fact Sheets/ Situation Assessment for indicators and indices

4. A basis for indicator development: The DPSIR Framework
The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response: a thinking framework for the development and categorisation of indicators
Implies a certain causality
Allows for feedback loops

5. Methodology for trialing the approach and logical testing
Need to ground the selection of specific indicators in the problem at hand, rather than proceed in selecting indicators abstractly.
Avoid long lists of indicators, which may have been “correct” but not necessarily relevant.
This complexity requires a step-by-step approach in developing indicators: allow questions of relevance and completeness to be answered throughout.

6. A sector-based approach.
Water Scarcity, results from an imbalance between water availability, and water demand, in different sectors.
Suggestion: main water uses are identified and are used as a check list to develop a comprehensive (but relevant) Water Scarcity indicator system

7. Supporting the indicators
Each indicator should be associated with three elements:
A Fact Sheet (explaining what is requested and why – specific parameter, resolution, rationale/SPI, methodology, metadata)
An Indicator Assessment (presenting a view of the spatial and/or temporal development/trends of the indicator in view of the phenomenon of interest (here: Water Scarcity).
Reporting guidelines (defining the format of how to report the indicator): link to SoE reporting sheets & DDs

8. Process and current state (√)
Domestic Water Supply
Industry
Other
(e.g. tourism)
Agriculture √ √ √
First comprehensive set of indicators for each use
Data availability Survey ( ) √ √ ~√ √
Screened set of indicators for each use (narrowed down) Based on specific criteria (e.g. suitability, data availability, reproducibility, capacity if integration, clarity, diagnostic ability etc.
PILOT RBDs testing
Final set of indicators Assessments

9. Agriculture
Linked to IRENA indicators as much as possible

10. Domestic Water Supply Main sub-domains remain almost the same.
RESPONSES
Economic
Technical
Legislative
Education
Responses can change a
driver
Responses can be a
driver for change
can mitigate
Responses
an impact
Drivers
results in
pressures
Which (
adversely )
change the
state
Changes of state
have impacts
Pressures have
Impacts
Which we
undertand by
monitoring the
Impacts call for
responses
STATE
Water quantity
Water quality (status of water bodies)
Land cover
Infrastructure
PRESSURES
Anomalies in physical parameters
Population
Water demand (water use, water abstraction)
Pressure on water supply infrastructure
Pollution
Land cover change
DRIVERS
Climatic changes
Population change (growth, migration, urbanisation)
Living conditions (economy, social perceptions)
IMPACTS
Water resources
Environmental
Socio-economic
Main sub-domains remain almost the same.
new additions are also important
Indicators in green colour already included in the SoE#3

11. Industry Water Supply In progress… DRIVERS RESPONSES PRESSURES IMPACTS
Economic
Technical
Legislative
Education
Responses can change a
driver
Responses can be a
driver for change
can mitigate
Responses
an impact
Drivers
results in
pressures
Which (
adversely )
change the
state
Changes of state
have impacts
Pressures have
Impacts
Which we
undertand by
monitoring the
Impacts call for
responses
STATE
Water quantity
Water quality (status of water bodies)
Land cover
Infrastructure
PRESSURES
Anomalies in physical parameters
Water demand (water use, water abstraction)
Pressure on water supply infrastructure
Pollution
Land cover change
DRIVERS
Climatic changes
IMPACTS
Water resources
Environmental
Socio-economic
In progress…

12. ……..

13. Data Availability Survey (06.2009)
table 2: State & Quantity of Water Resources (WR Availability + Use)
table 3: Socio-economic parameters
table 4: Environmental parameters

14. Example Indicators for Domestic: Drivers
Climatic changes
Changes in T, P, ET as compared to regional (or national) LTAAs
Climatic changes (anthropogenic or otherwise) are a main driver of change for domestic water supply either due to weather conditions (extreme heat etc)
Population Growth
Change in population (increase/decrease) within the region (RBD or country)
Natural population change
Change of residential population.
Net migration
Nights spent at hotels, similar establishments and other collective accommodation.
Population growth impact domestic water supply through: increased water demand; increased demand for land, urbanisation that increases and concentrates water demand in big cities.
Migration may create a non planned move of population into urban areas increasing the need for water and new infrastructure.
Seasonal population due to tourism drive water consumption.
Living conditions
Distribution of rooms per person - By tenure status of the household
Household expenditure per inhabitant, by category
Better living conditions drive an increase in domestic water demand.

15. Example Indicators for Domestic: Pressures
Anomalies in physical parameters
P anomaly
ETa anomaly
Population
Population density
Water use
Domestic water use
Water use per large city
Water abstraction
Water abstraction from GW & SW for public water systems and for domestic self supply
Export of water
Indirect pressure from other RBD
Pressure on water supply infrastructure
New public water supply connections for domestic water supply.
Measure of the dependability of supply
Pollution
Significant Point Source Pollution of Surface Waters
Emissions to water of hazardous substances from urban sources
Returned water after use without treatment
This is the SWP13 from WFD reporting requirements.
This is the WHS8 indicator from EEA
Water quality deterioration contributes to WS as it changes the available water resource (and/or impacts on the cost of returning the water resources at a quality suitable for use)
Land Cover Change
Land take % of total area of the RBD and % of the various land cover types taken by urban development
Similar to the CSI014 but specific for RBD level

16. Example Indicators for Domestic: State
Water Quantity
Water Balance
Groundwater storage
Reservoir Storage
Streamflow
External water resources used (over total water resources used)
This is the SoE#3 EEA’s reporting sheet
Dependency ratio that provides info on the reliance of a region/RBD from water resources generated outside its territory (natural external inflows, not imports)
Water Quality
Status of water bodies:
Chemical Status
Ecological Status
These indicators are required by the WFD. Here will allow the assessment of impacts to the environment, due to water abstraction and water quality degradation resulting from use of domestic water. These impacts are expected to be exacerbated by WS.
Land cover
Land use
Infrastructure
Population connected to public water supply.
Public water supply system coverage
Efficiency: Losses from leakages (return water before use)
The state of infrastructure reveals both issues of efficiency of use of water resources and potential for improvement (and hence responses).
Education
Educational level of population
Educational level is considered here as an indicator of perception for practices.

17. Example Indicators for Domestic: Impact
Water Resources
Reduction in available water (m3) from surface and groundwater storage
Reduction of stream flow
(%) increased volume of water imports for domestic consumption
This is the transmission of the impact to other regions.
Environmental
Eutrophication
Loss of wetlands
Loss of biodiversity
Desertification
Changes in river morphology (terraces, gullies)
Socio-economic
Water shortage & interruptions (frequency, duration, extend)
Properties subject to low pressure and duration
Population affected from water restrictions (levels and duration)
Cost of drought mitigation measures (including water transfers and other short term development options)
Income losses or additional costs due to drought and water scarcity.
Demonstrates the impact of increased water demand and current state on the population.

18. Example Indicators for Domestic: Response
Economic
Domestic water tariff and also as percent of household income.
Environmental charges as percentage of water tariff.
Investments and subsidies in water saving programmes and measures
Amount of investments on long term water supply infrastructures: reservoirs, desalination plants, leakage management.
Technical
(Infrastructure)
New metering systems installation
Volume of returned flows by source.
Volume of treated return water.
Volume of additional water resources (Water imports, desalinated water) used for domestic
Volume of reused water used for domestic
Volume of recycled water
Population connected to waste water treatment
Design capacity of urban waste water treatment plants
# of WWTP per level of treatment (primary, tertiary etc)
This indicator shows the margin/opportunity to increase efficiency in water supply and use
Legislative
Water restrictions imposed: levels and duration
Drought management plans
Hard constraints in water consumption for agriculture
Educational
# of programmes raising awareness for domestic water use
This response influences the driver on perceptions and is an indicator of water demand management responses.