Water accounting can be defined as the systematic study of the current status and future trends in water supply, demand, accessibility and use within a specified spatial domain. The concept of water accounting is based on the argument that knowledge of the current status of water resources, the capacity and condition of water supply infrastructure and trends in water demand and use is a precondition for successful water management, Land and Water Days in Near East & North Africa, 15-18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan

1. Water Accounting
Water accounting can be defined as the systematic study of the current status and future
trends in water supply, demand, accessibility and use within a specified spatial domain. The
concept of water accounting is based on the argument that knowledge of the current status of
water resources, the capacity and condition of water supply infrastructure and trends in water
demand and use is a precondition for successful water management.
Objectives of water accounting:
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Asses current status of water resources in a given spatial domain
Evaluate status and trends in water demand and access to water resources with focus
on agricultural water use
Provide decision makers with a set of policy options to increase the capacity to cope
with water scarcity
Topics addressed at the training:
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How to define water scarcity;
How to measure water scarcity;
Describe different types of water accounting;
Describe a framework that can be useful when structuring water;
Describe a generic stepwise process that can be followed when using water accounting;
Highlight the importance of tracking water quantity (i.e. volumes) when using water accounting;
Highlight the importance of defining properly the components of water withdrawal in irrigation.