The document discusses the integration of data and innovative solutions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water, particularly Goal 6, which aims for universal access to safe drinking water and sustainable management of water resources by 2030. It emphasizes the importance of contextual realities, the role of the science community in supporting evidence-based policy and management, and highlights targets for investment, institutional integration, and social inclusion in water management. The document advocates for partnerships across sectors to promote equitable growth and effective water resource management.

1. Using data and
innovative solutions
to deliver on the
Water SDGs
Peter G. McCornick & Julie van der Bliek
International Water Management Institute
19th October, Seattle
Water for Food Conference

2. Water SDG
(final proposal OWG, 19 July 2014)
Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1 by 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.2 by 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, paying
special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.3 by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and
materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse by x% globally
6.4 by 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and
supply of freshwater to address water scarcity, and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water
scarcity
6.5 by 2030 implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation
as appropriate
6.6 by 2020 protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
6.A by 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water and
sanitation related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment,
recycling and reuse technologies
6.B support and strengthen the participation of local communities for improving water and sanitation management

3. Links to other SDGs
Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote
sustainable agriculture
Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable
Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 15.Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land
degradation and halt biodiversity loss

4. How does the science community contribute to the
SDG process
 Next steps in the SDG process: setting national
targets, achieving those targets in countries,
measuring progress
 Explore contributions of science community through
evidence-based support
 Contextual realities in low- and middle-income
countries in Africa and Asia

5. Context is crucial

6. Context is crucial
Targets for countries at different stages of economic
development
SDG targets Stage 1 – Fully
informal
Stage 2 – Largely
informal
Stage 3 – Rapidly
formalizing
Stage 4 – Fully formal
water industry
Target 1 Investment Invest in local
infrastructure to
improve water access
Invest in meso-level
infrastructure for
sustainable
development of water
resources
Invest in improving
water productivity and
waste recycling
Invest in 100%
coverage in high
quality water service
provision
Target 2 Institutional Make informal water
institutions equitable
Integrate informal
water institutions with
formal ones in private
or public sector
Create meso-level
participatory water
institutions
Create a full-fledged
water industry with
proactive regulator
Target 3 Policy and
legal regime
Establish basic water
information system
Establish water policy
and legal regime
Establish basin-level
water allocation
mechanism
Full-fledged basin
management
authorities
Target 4 Financial
sustainability
Establish the principle
of water as a social
and economic good
Provide a subsidy on
operational and
maintenance costs to
50%
Apply a 75% service
fee for recovery of
operational and
maintenance costs of
water infrastructure
Apply 100% water
service as well as
resource fee for
management,
operations and
maintenance costs

7. Context is crucial
Social inclusion:
Consider women and disadvantaged groups
• Target the individuals and their
needs in water management
systems
• Including women in water
management decisions, address
land and water rights (target 5a),
and support female farmers to
increase agricultural productivity.
Feminization of agriculture.
• Multiple Use Water Systems –
integration at community level

8. Setting targets and
water metrics for
monitoring

9. Water Metrics:
Suite of indicators
• A suite of indicators, rather than a single indicator
such as water productivity, should be used for
monitoring the progress towards the water SDG
for all users, while also maintaining healthy
ecosystems.
• Use of specific indicators (water use efficiency or
water productivity) masks complexity and trade-offs
required to achieve development outcomes

10. Water Metrics:
Water productivity
• Global target:
Improving water-use efficiency
across all sectors
• Water productivity analysis at a
basin scale: highlight trade-offs
to help decision makers develop
strategies where the benefits
exceed the costs and where
both are clearly assessed and
quantified.

11. Water Metrics:
New data and tools
Low-cost opportunities:
• data collected through
remote sensing and near
sensing
• collect and disseminate
data through mobile
technologies
Challenge: Ownership and
full integration within the
national water monitoring
& reporting mechanisms.

12. Water Metrics:
Water accounting
Water productivity is an indicator of the
efficient use of water; water accounting
is a monitoring tool.
Water Accounting Plus (WA+) –
partnership: IWMI, UNESCO-IHE, FAO –
uses global open access data and the
development of an international
standard to express complex water
management issues.
WA+ presents the data in different
sheets, allowing easy and quick access to
particular topics, such as agricultural
production, ecosystem services, useable
flows and groundwater depletion.

13. Opportunities for growth
Further development of GW in SS Africa

14. Balancing the scales
Small Private Irrigation
Small Private Irrigation:
• initiated and financed by farmers
• operated and managed by individuals or in
small self-initiated groups;
• small plots with relatively low-cost
technologies;
• mostly high value crops for market
• spontaneous and unregulated
In many African countries: more important than public irrigation -
number of farmers and value of production.
In India: more than 50% of the irrigated area receives its water
from pumps and tubewells owned and managed by smallholders

15. Suitability domains example: WLT
Up scaling - What are the most suitable solutions in
different contexts?
+ OR
and
=
One scenario for
Individual motor pumps

16. Impacts at an Ecosystem/Landscape Scale
Irrigated areas of Asia, 2010 @ 500 meter
Mapping system: to regularly
delineate boundaries and monitor
change.
Irrigated and rainfed area map, South Asia
Key Questions:
• Where is small-scale Agricultural Water
Management?
• What is changing and where (e.g., irrigated
area, rainfed systems, water sources,
cropping patterns?)
• What are the implications for food
security, poverty alleviation, and
ecosystems?

17. How to revitalise large-scale irrigation systems for food, water, energy,
economic and ecosystems security and services?
Rehabilitation
Revitalization is more than just rehabilitation
International Water Management Institute
Pehur High Level Canal,
Pakistan
David Molden/IWMI
Productivity
Functioning Ecosystems
Hamish John Appleby/IWMI
Richard Steckel/IWMI
People

18. SDGs emphasize integration

19. Integration
Innovative solution to resolve hydropower and irrigation
conflicts: Managed aquifer recharge in the Ferghana Valley
Aquifers of Fergana
Valley have over 3000
Mm3 of free
capacities which
could be used for
winter flow banking

20. Integration
Targets for Wastewater reuse, Food security, Energy
reduction, …
SDG targets on wastewater
management, recycling &
reuse: other nexus benefits
→ reduced energy for
chemical fertilizers, recovery
of nutrients

21. Pragmatic solutions

22. Pragmatic Solutions
Sustainable use of groundwater: consider solutions outside the
water sector
Jyotigam Yojana:
• Separation of electricity supply
to villages and pumps
• Reduced electricity and
groundwater use
• Improved power supply to
domestic users.
State of Gujarat
• Agricultural production has
been growing at nearly 10%
per annum
• Only State in western India
where groundwater levels are
improving

23. Pragmatic Solutions
Flood risks and opportunity for increasing productivity in
Nigeria
AWM Nigeria (http://frdsan.iwmi.org/)
Nigeria: Flood Mapping and Mobile Apps,
http://dialogues.cgiar.org/blog/nigerian-flood-story/
Targeting 1000s of
farmers to gain access
to the right
information at the
right time on flood
risks and opportunities
from flood recession
agriculture.

24. Overarching messages
• Partnerships: Achieving all water-related goals will require
a broad partnership within the water sector and beyond –
and including the science community
• Opportunities for Growth: The emphasis should be on
facilitating a sustainable and equitable growth path.
• Balancing the Scales: large scale investments in water
resources and agriculture need to complement, rather than
undermine, small-scale producers
• Integration: thinking across sectors and out of the ‘sectoral
boxes’ has produced practical solutions

25. How does the science community contribute to the
SDG process
 Finalize the SDGs
 Next steps in the SDG process: setting national
targets, achieving those targets in countries,
measuring progress
 Explore contributions of science community through
evidence-based support
 Contextual realities in low- and middle-income
countries in Africa and Asia