Aqueduct
Aqueduct Water Risk Indicators
Understanding the Aqueduct Water Risk Indicators
Related Tutorials:
How to Use the Analysis Features in the Water Risk Atlas
Aqueduct employs a range of water risk indicators to provide comprehensive insights into water-related challenges. This section offers detailed explanations of each indicator, including its definition, applications, and limitations. By understanding these indicators, you can effectively utilize Aqueduct to inform your water management decisions.
To learn more about the Aqueduct's indicators and methodology, read our technical note.
| Description | How can it be used in your analysis? | Limitations |
Baseline water stress shows how much water is being used compared to how much is naturally available.
Higher values indicate more competition for water resources. | This indicator helps you understand where competition for water might be an issue. Areas with high stress might be more at risk of cutoffs or dry periods. | This is a big-picture view. Local conditions can vary. Water quality and environmental needs are not considered here. |
Water depletion tracks how much water is consumed and thus removed from the watershed relative to its available freshwater sources.
Higher values indicate where water use has a greater impact on local water supply | This can help you understand where your impact on downstream water users is greatest. This information can be helpful for water management planning. | This is a big-picture view. Local conditions can vary. “Dry year” and “seasonal” categories from Brauman et al. (2016) were removed to make the indicator suitable for the Aqueduct framework. |
Interannual variability shows how much the available freshwater supply fluctuates from year to year.
Higher values indicate larger year-to-year swings in water availability. | This can be useful for understanding areas where water availability is less predictable, potentially leading to higher risks during droughts and/or floods. Areas with high interannual variability might need to prepare for periods with both too much and too little water. | This is a big-picture view. Local conditions can vary. This analysis is based on data from 1979 to 2019. Results may vary if using a different time range. |
Seasonal variability shows how much the available freshwater supply fluctuates throughout the year.
Higher values indicate larger swings in water availability between seasons. | This information can help identify areas where water availability varies significantly between wet and dry seasons. This can be crucial for planning water use and storage strategies. | This is a big-picture view. Local conditions can vary. This analysis is based on data from 1979 to 2019. Results may vary if using a different time range. |
Groundwater table decline shows how quickly groundwater levels are dropping over time, measured in centimeters per year.
Higher values indicate faster rates of decline, potentially due to excessive pumping. | This data can help identify areas where groundwater is being used faster than it can be replenished. This can lead to problems like wells running dry in the future. | The results are based on models and estimations, not direct measurements. The analysis focuses on the period 1990-2014, which may differ from other Aqueduct indicators. |
Riverine flood risk shows the percentage of people who might be affected by flooding from overflowing rivers in an average year, considering existing flood defenses.
Higher values indicate a greater share of the population is at risk of floods. | This data can help identify areas with higher populations vulnerable to river flooding. | This considers average yearly impacts, not the worst-case scenario floods. It doesn't account for combined river and coastal flooding or the ripple effects of floods (e.g., transportation disruptions). |
Coastal flood risk shows the percentage of people who might be affected by flooding from storm surges in an average year, considering existing seawalls and dikes.
Higher values indicate a greater share of the population is vulnerable to coastal flooding. | This data can help identify areas with higher populations at risk of flooding from the ocean. | This considers average yearly impacts, not the worst-case scenario floods. It doesn't account for combined river and coastal flooding or the ripple effects of floods (e.g., transportation disruptions). |
Drought risk considers how likely droughts are to occur, how many people and resources are in those areas, and how vulnerable they are to drought conditions.
Higher values indicate a greater chance of drought causing problems. | This data can help identify areas with a higher risk of drought impacting people and infrastructure. | This focuses on surface water shortages, not necessarily groundwater availability.
The risk categories slightly different from the other Aqueduct indicators. |
Untreated connected wastewater shows the percentage of homes connected to sewers that don't have any treatment process for their wastewater. This can pollute rivers and harm people and ecosystems.
Higher values show a larger share of homes releasing raw sewage, potentially harming health and ecosystems. | This data can help identify areas where raw sewage is being released into the environment, potentially posing health risks. | This only considers household wastewater, not industrial waste or agricultural runoff. It doesn't account for private septic tanks or the severity of water pollution. |
Coastal eutrophication potential shows how much pollution from rivers might trigger harmful algal blooms in coastal areas.
Higher values indicate more nutrients in coastal waters, increasing the chance of harmful algal blooms. | This data can help identify areas where excess nutrients from rivers could lead to algal blooms, harming marine life. | This focuses on saltwater environments, not freshwater lakes and rivers. It doesn't account for seasonal changes or specific characteristics of the coastline. |
Unimproved/No Drinking Water shows the percentage of people who rely on unsafe water sources like streams, ponds, or unprotected wells.
Higher values mean more people lack access to safe drinking water. | This data can help identify areas where people are more likely to be drinking contaminated water, potentially leading to health problems. | This assumes consistent access across rural and urban areas within a country, which might not always be the case. |
Unimproved/No Sanitation shows the percentage of people who lack access to proper toilets and may be disposing of waste in unsafe ways.
Higher values mean more people lack access to safe sanitation facilities. | This data can help identify areas with poor sanitation practices, which can increase the risk of disease outbreaks. | This assumes consistent access across rural and urban areas within a country, which might not always be the case. |
Peak RepRisk Country ESG Risk Index shows a country's risk for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues that could affect businesses.
Higher values indicate a greater chance of problems related to sustainability or social responsibility. | This data can help you understand a country's overall risk profile when considering water-related projects or investments. | This indicator is based on a snapshot in time, and may not reflect current events. |
Want to learn more?
The technical note dives deeper into the calculations, risk categories, and limitations of each indicator.