SDG 6.4.2 - Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
Definition: The level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources is the
ratio between total freshwater withdrawn by all major sectors and total renewable freshwater resources, after taking into account environmental flow requirements. Main sectors, as defined by ISIC standards, include agriculture; forestry and fishing; manufacturing; electricity industry; and services. This indicator is also known as water withdrawal intensity.
Concepts: This indicator provides an estimate of pressure by all sectors on the country’s renewable freshwater
resources. A low level of water stress indicates a situation where the combined withdrawal by all sectors is marginal in relation to the resources, and has therefore little potential impact on the sustainability of the resources or on the potential competition between users. A high level of water stress indicates a situation where the combined withdrawal by all sectors represents a substantial share of the total renewable freshwater resources, with potentially larger impacts on the sustainability of the resources and potential situations of conflicts and competition between users.
Further reading: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-06-04-02.pdf
Ecosystems: Freshwater; Farmlands; Mountains; Grasslands, Shrublands and Savannahs; Peatlands
Importance for ecosystem restoration : Withdrawal rates about 75% and above, represent high water stress, and more than 100% can be critical with devastating consequences for the environment, impacting as well in economic and social development (FAO, 2022a). The indicator also considers environmental flow requirements (EFR) which are essential to maintaining ecosystem health and resilience (FAO and UN Water, 2021). Because this freshwater withdrawal considers EFR which is crucial to sustain aquatic ecosystems, keeping sustainable values of this indicator would help to keep healthy ecosystems and restore those affected by overextraction. This indicator also contributes to target 15.3 and helps to combat desertification and to restore land affected by desertification and drought (FAO and UN Water, 2021). Low-input processes in agriculture, for example lead water intensity to decrease substantially, helping to preserve soil quality and restore degraded and eroded land (FAO, 2022a).
References:
FAO (2022a). The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture – Systems at breaking point. Main report. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9910en
FAO and UN Water. 2021. Progress on Level of Water Stress. Global status and acceleration needs for SDG Indicator 6.4.2, 2021. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6241en
