Crucial Index Measuring Adequacy of Drinking Water in over 144
Countries
29 July 2010
"It is important to understand that which can be conceptualized can be defined; that which is defined can be measured; that which is measured can be monitored. There are too many vague notions of things that make it difficult to say whether we are going forward or backward, unless we know how to measure them."
Visiting Prof Bhanoji Rao, Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS
MONOGRAPH: It shows the Index of Drinking Water Adequacy (IDWA) for 23 Asian economies and the IDWA-Global for 144 economies of the world
CO-EDITOR OF MONOGRAPH: Visiting Prof Bhanoji Rao, Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS
That which is measured can be monitored. Being of this view and seeing the lack of a good measuring tool for monitoring adequacy of access to drinking water led four researchers from the Institute of Water Policy (IWP) of NUS' Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School) to devise the Index of Drinking Water Adequacy (IDWA). The IDWA measures and compares the efficacy of different countries in providing adequate drinking water to citizens using the following indicators: resource availability, access to improved drinking water sources, capacity to buy water, water usage and quality.
"Good indicators offer a valuable tool for monitoring. The indicators should be clear and easy to understand. IDWA fits in very well with all these ideas. In particular, it is an average of five (only five) components which are all very critical for water security. Averaging three to at most five indicators may be okay but averaging 15 to 30 indicators will blur the communicating capability of the average," said Visiting Professor at the IWP Bhanoji Rao, who is also part of the Visiting Faculty at the Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthi Nilayam, and the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad.
The thinking, methodology and application of IDWA are elucidated in a monograph entitled "Index of Drinking Water Adequacy (IDWA): International and Intra-national Explorations". The monograph was launched at IWP's Second Global Water Policy Dialogue on 30 June 2010. Co-edited by Prof Rao and founding Director of both IWP and the NUS Global Asia Institute Prof Seetharam Kallidaikurichi E, the monograph also includes contributions from IWP Research Associates Ms Fan Mingxuan and Mr Ngo Quang Vinh.
It shows the index for 23 Asian economies and the IDWA-Global for 144 economies of the world, and covers intra-country studies across Indian states, Chinese provinces and Vietnam. In the case of Singapore, its score was 100 for four out of five indicators. It only attained an index value of 42 for resource availability, accounting for its overall score of 88. Singapore's example shows the importance of including capacity in the measurement. Despite lacking in water resources, Singapore's capacity reflected in its high GDP per capita meant that it could innovate and finally still do well in achieving adequate water supplies, as compared to other countries with naturally abundant water sources.
The IDWA is an IWP effort. Established in 2008, IWP undertakes cutting-edge research, provides training and policy advice to water leaders, and aims to build a strong global water policy network which contributes to the transformation of Asia.