1. International Recommendations for Water Statistics (IRWS) – Process leading to the publication
Third Meeting of the
United Nations Committee of Experts on
Environmental-Economic Accounting
(New York, June 2008)

2. Background
The 38th Session UN Statistical Commission adopted the SEEAW as an interim international statistical standard in March 2007
A SEEAW implementation strategy was developed subsequent to it adoption.
A draft was discussed at the 2nd UNCEEA Meeting
The final strategy was included in the UNCEEA report to the 39th Session of UN Statistical Commission. See paragraphs

3. SEEAW, IRWS and compilation guidelines
The IRWS is being developed by UNSD in accordance with the SEEAW implementation strategy
The IRWS will provide material to enable countries to produce the SEEAW standard tables, fill in international questionnaires and derive commonly used water indicators
After IRWS is completed more detailed compilation guidelines can be prepared as part of a knowledge-based platform, building on the existing material and the UNSD website (e.g. the searchable archive).

4. Outline PART I PART II ANNEXES Chapter 1: Introduction.
Chapter 2: Main concepts and the SEEAW
Chapter 3: Economic units
Chapter 4: Data items
PART II
Chapter 5: Indicators
Chapter 6: Data sources and compilation methods
Chapter 7: Data collection strategy
Chapter 8: Data quality and metadata
Chapter 9: Dissemination
ANNEXES
Annex 1: Supplementary data items
Annex 2: Link between data items and the SEEAW
Annex 3: Link between data items and indicators
Annex 4: Data quality assessment framework Dissemination

5. Data items Physical data items Inland water resource stocks
Flows of water into and out of the territory
Natural transfers between inland water resources
Flows of water from the environment to the economy
Flows of water within the economy
Flows of water from the economy to the environment
Losses in distribution
Flows of waterborne emissions within the economy
Flows of waterborne emissions from the economy to the environment
Monetary data items
Economic flows related to water supply and sewerage
Water supply and sewerage infrastructure
Cost of water supply and sewerage (for own use)
Tariffs and charges for water supply and sewerage
Population data items
Type of water supply
Type of toilet and sewerage disposal
Population killed or affected by flooding

6. Timetable 2008 July – August
1st Draft circulated by UNSD for review by reference group
2008 August – September
2nd Draft circulated by UNSD in preparation for an Expert Group Meeting
2008 October
Expert Group Meeting
2008 November – December
3rd Draft prepared
2008 December –
2009 January
3rd Draft circulated for global consultation
2009 February
3rd Draft and comments on it submitted to UNSC for review upon recommendation of UNCEEA
2009 March – May
Final Draft prepared
2009 May
Final Draft submitted to Bureau of UNSC for adoption upon recommendation by the Bureau of UNCEEA

7. Questions to UNCEEA:
Does the UNCEEA agree with the proposed scope and coverage of the IRWS [Section B]?
Does the UNCEEA agree with the proposed structure of the IRWS into 2 parts, Part I, covering the international recommendations and Part II providing implementation guidelines on data sources, data quality, data collection strategies, data storage, data editing and dissemination [paragraph 7 and Annex I]?
Does the UNCEEA agree with the proposed process for the completion of the IRWS [Section C]?
Does the UNCEEA agree with the proposed time schedule for the completion and adoption of the IRWS [Table 1]?