Application of the System of Environmental and Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) to Zambia’s Water Accounts: Lessons Learnt

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide a mechanism of consolidating water data from different sources into one set in order to study the interaction between the economy and the environment in all of Zambia. Currently, data on water resource and water use are collected independently, used by different institutions for their own purpose, and rarely integrated into national economic accounts. The objective of this study was to assess water abstraction and consumption of households and industries in order to construct a partial water accounting system and identify kinds of indicators that can be derived from water accounting from 2006/2007-2009/2010 in order to enhance Southern African Development Community (SADC) Framework study. The System of Environmental and Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) method that directly link Water Accounts (WAs) to national accounts by applying the same concepts as those in the internationally adopted System of National Accounts (SNA) was used in order to determine the various pressures on water resources. Primary data including water abstractions, use, consumption, and economic data was obtained using non – probability structured quantitative purposive sampling questionnaires that were self – administered by key informants representing different institutions. Respondents were selected on a non – random manner, therefore, not every participant had a chance to participate in this study. The data was used to compile quantitatively two types of WAs namely Asset and Physical Supply and Use Tables (PSUT) (UNSD, 2007), using Microsoft Excel. The study revealed a trend that in terms of maximum water abstraction and consumption, agriculture exerted the most pressure recording 53.56% and 76.75% respectively, followed by electricity with 45.29% and 20.86% respectively from the 2006/2007 to 2009/2010. Households, commercial utilities, mining and manufacturing exerted maximum low combined abstraction and consumption pressure of 1.15% and 2.39% respectively. The Total Renewable Water Resource (TRWR) of 67,108 million m3 per year indicating 36% decline in river flows and groundwater recharge in comparison to the 1995 Water Resources Master Plan (WRMP), the Per Capita Renewable Water Resource (PCRWR) of 6,412 m3 per person per year indicating sufficient renewable water resources in relation to population and an exploitative index of 104% was established indicating endangered renewable water resources for the period 2006/2007 to 2009/2010. This study has established an increasing trend whereas the surface and groundwater withdrawals were increased, there was a corresponding increase in the exploitative index pointing to the increased water demand in Zambia.