INDICATORS

Implementing Integrated Water

Resources Management
at River Basin Level
Minimum Indicator Set for Water Resources Management
Function Water Management Progress Indicator Unit/Definition
Objectives
Major water users are 1. Number of surface and Number:
known and are managed groundwater users licensed Number of licenses issued. May be
through a licensing (or according to the regulations. further subdivided by use.
Water Allocation permit) system.
Allocating water to major 2. Water allocation criteria
water users and uses, Review:
include use efficiency, Examine allocation criteria for
maintaining minimum economic benefit and social
levels for social and compliance with IWRM principles.
Water allocation is in line goals.
environmental use while %:
addressing equity and with sustainable use,
economic efficiency and Number of records from water
development needs of 3. % of time environmental and resource monitoring stations with
society. social equity principles.
social reserve is maintained flows lower than the reserve divided
in major water courses. by the total records x 100. A
determination of the reserve is
required.
%:
Number of samples below set
1. % of surface water quality
samples complying with standard. Simplest approach is to
base the determination on
Pollution Control water quality objectives. measurements of a few key water
Managing pollution The extent of the pollution
problem is known and quality parameters.
using polluter pays
principles and progress being measured. %:
appropriate incentives to Number of samples below set
2. % of ground water quality standard. Simplest approach is to
reduce most important samples complying with
pollution problems and water quality objectives. base the determination on
minimise environmental measurements of a few key water
and social impact. quality parameters.
Major polluters are known
and are managed through a 3. Number of polluters licensed Number:
licensing (or permit) according to the regulations. Number of licenses issued.
system.
1. Charges and fees for water Review:
Water use efficiency allocation favour the poor Examine for the application of
Economic and and promote efficient water economic and financial tools in
improving through use of use. water allocation.
Financial Management economic and financial
Applying economic and instruments. %:
financial tools for cost 2. Bill collection ratio. Total revenue divided by the total
recovery and behaviour amount billed.
change to support the Review:
goals of equitable 3. Pollution charges give Examine for the application of
access and sustainable Pollution reducing through incentive to reduce pollution. economic and financial tools in
benefits to society from use of economic and water pollution.
water use. financial instruments. %:
4. Bill collection ratio. Total revenue divided by the total
amount billed.
Information Essential data is processed 1. Data base established in Review:
Management and packaged as formats compatible with Data base is transferable across
Provide essential information at the right level other river basin basins in the country and for
information necessary to for specific managers and organisations. transboundary systems.
make informed and stakeholders to support
transparent decisions for transparent decision 2. Water management Review:
development and making and to gain information is available to Examine availability of basin
sustainable commitment and political managers and other information and reports on water
management of water support for the decisions stakeholders as required. resource management indicators.
resources in the basin. made.
 Minimum Indicator Set for Water Resources Management
Function Water Management Progress Indicator Unit/Definition
Objectives
Effective cooperation 1. Number of meetings of
between government Government agencies with Number:
Stakeholder agencies with water interests to consult Number of formal or ad hoc
Participation responsibilities for water and collaborate on water
management or water use meetings at interagency level.
Implement stakeholder management.
participation as a basis in the basin.
for decision making that 2. Formal stakeholder Review:
takes into account the structures established with Examine basin water management
best interests of society clear roles and structure for stakeholder
and the environment in Stakeholder participation is
institutionalised in the responsibilities in water organisations and allocated
the development and resources management. management roles.
use of water resources management of the river
basin. 3. Basin stakeholders (male Number:
in the basin. and female) represented in Representatives from stakeholders
decision making bodies at all serving in government water
levels. management structures.
Basin Planning 1. Water management Review:
Prepare and regularly activities driven by Basin Examine the link between the basin
update the Basin Plan Basin planning synthesises plan and current water management
technical and social plan.
incorporating activities.
stakeholder views on priorities for the basin and
development and acts as a basis for action Review:
management priorities and accountability to the 2. Stakeholder priorities Examine the basin plan for
for the basin, and using stakeholders. reflected in the basin plan. stakeholder consultation and
it to inform the annual content.
work plans of the RBO.
Knowledge of inundation 1. Length of river analysed for
areas for different flood flood inundation (flood Number:
Flood and Drought frequency, hydraulic studies Kilometres analysed river.
Management magnitudes.
and topographical surveys).
Operating floods and
droughts to mitigate and Functioning flood warning 2. Number of forecasts or Number:
minimise harm to system. warnings issued for floods. Sent bulletins to stakeholders per
humans, environment year.
and economic values. Functioning drought 3. Number of forecasts or Number:
warning system. warnings issued for low Sent bulletins to stakeholders per
flows. year.
The water allocation system 1. Proportion of water %:
is effective and permits are allocation permit holders From monitoring visits the number
being complied with. complying with permit not complying with conditions
conditions. divided by the total number of visits.
The Pollution control 2. Proportion of water pollution %:
system is effective and permit holders complying From monitoring visits the number
Monitoring permits are being complied with permit conditions. not complying with conditions
Implement effective with. divided by the total number of visits.
monitoring systems that 3. Number of water resource Number:
provide essential monitoring stations Number of stations with reliable
management data and producing reliable data. data records.
identify and respond to Mm3:
infringements of laws, The water storage capacity in
Knowledge of water 4. Total water storage capacity.
regulations and permits. artificial storage structures above a
resource availability is a minimum size (say 5,000 m3).
basis for management.
5. % groundwater monitoring %:
stations with declining water Comparison of water levels over a 5
levels. year period.
River Basin Organisation Indicator Context
Cap-Net has been working with river basin organisations (RBOs) at national and sub-national levels to
assist in their development as effective managers of water. As part of a programme of capacity building,
support indicators have been developed that are based on the implementation of the integrated approach
to the sustainable management of water resources. The indicators are presented as a minimum set and
therefore do not completely measure the objectives described for good water resources management.

Assumptions
1. Managers of water resources primarily have a regulatory function but this is further elaborated with
the following functions considered essential for effective management of the water resources in a
river basin.
S Water resource allocation
S Pollution control
S Monitoring
S Stakeholder participation
S Economic and Financial management
S Information management
S Basin planning
S Flood and drought management

2. The water resource management functions may not all be managed by one agency and may to
some extent be decentralised within the basin.

3. All of the information associated with the above functions, used in an integrated fashion, is
essential for effective water resources management within the basin.

Application
1. The indicators are grouped by water management function.

2. The indicators may be used to:

S Measure progress with integrated water resources management;
S Identify weak areas of: regulation; institutional arrangements; management systems
(financial and operational); capacity and authority and therefore to guide corrective action
by the water management agency; and
S Report on an annual basis to management and to stakeholders.

All feedback on these indicators is welcome

Send comments to [email protected].

www.cap-net.org