Issue: Services provided by the environment to human settlements - Water
This is an issue under the Human settlements theme of the Data Reporting System.
Why we need to know about this issue
Human settlements are sustained through a number of services that are received from the environment. These services provide the resource inputs to human settlements and may be degraded on by wastes and emissions generated by them.
These services include clean water from freshwater sources.
Indicators
- IW-01 Annual river discharge
River discharge can influence the quantity and quality of water available for human use. Discharge rates are often reduced by storing flood water in dams or artificial lakes and releasing it during periods of low river flow. This can come at the cost of reducing a river’s capacity for flushing its accumulated sediment load. - IW-02 Annual water storage
Water can be used by humans for many purposes and the indicator provides a guide of its availability in different parts of the country over time. - IW-05 Average annual groundwater depth
Ground water is a vital resource, particularly where surface water supplies are limited. Some groundwater resources are not being used sustainably or are at risk of over-extraction. Groundwater depth is an important factor in determining the feasibility of developing the resource for human use. In the absence of data on groundwater depth, estimates of sustainable yield are reported as a measure of availability of groundwater for human use. - IW-06 Average annual groundwater pressure
Reduced groundwater pressure can lead to a reduction in access by humans to the resource.
Related issues
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Air
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Agriculture
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Ecological services
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Fisheries
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Forest products
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Minerals (including non-renewable energy sources)
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Recreation from the environment
- Human Settlements - Services provided by the environment to human settlements- Renewable energy
- Biodiversity - Utilisation and value of biodiversity- Contributions of biodiversity to ecological services
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Ecological services (air, water, climate)
- Land - Contributions of land to human life- Ecological services (air, water, climate)
- Atmosphere - Climate variability and change- Weather
- Atmosphere - Climate variability and change- Greenhouse
- Atmosphere - Air quality- Urban air quality
- Atmosphere - Air quality- Air quality - pressures and responses
- Atmosphere - Air quality- Regional air quality
- Biodiversity - Utilisation and value of biodiversity- Harvesting and trade in wildlife
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Food
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Medicines and other potentially useful biological compounds
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Non-living material (materials and energy fuels)
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Non-material values benefits (heritage, recreation, aesthetic and spiritual)
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life- Medium for transportation
- Land - Contributions of land to human life- Medicines and other potentially useful biological compounds from terrestrial sources
- Land - Contributions of land to human life- Living materials from the land
- Land - Contributions of land to human life- Non-living materials from the land
- Land - Contributions of land to human life- Non-materials benefits from the land
- Land - Contributions of land to human life- Space occupied by human activities
Key
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