WATER ABSTRACTION PER CAPITA
42. WATER ABSTRACTION PER CAPITA
1997–2008
400
Cubic meters
375
350
325
300
275
250
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Indices
43. CHANGES IN GDP, POPULATION, AND WATER ABSTRACTION AND CONSUMPTION
Base: 1997=100
1997–2008
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Freshwater consumption in agriculture
GDP
Total water abstraction
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Domestic and public consumption
Population
44. WATER ABSTRACTION PER CAPITA, INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON
2007
1,800
1,600
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
( 72 )
Denmark
United Kingdom
Czech Republic
Sweden
Israel
Germany
France
Netherlands
Global average
Turkey
Korea
Japan
Spain
OECD average
Portugal
Australia
0
United States
Cubic meters
1,400
Description of the indicator
This indicator presents the amount of usage of freshwater sources, based on per capita
water abstraction data and on water consumption data by purpose.
Relevance of the indicator to sustainable development
Freshwater sources are of great importance to the environment and the economy. The
abstraction of freshwater exerts significant pressure on the water sources and has
substantial consequences for the quantity and quality of the country's water sources.
Non-sustainable management of water sources can cause reduced flow in streams, water
shortages, increased salinity of freshwater, health problems, desertification, decreased food
production, and other problems. A main objective of sustainable development is to prevent
the over-use of water sources, in order to prevent irreparable harm to those sources. The
measures taken to achieve this objective include, primarily, the reduction of water loss during
transportation, use of more efficient technologies, increased recycling of water, and the use
of integrated methods in the management of the water sources.
Selected findings

In the years 1997–2008, water abstraction per capita decreased by approximately 18%,
from 356 cubic meters to 293 cubic meters. In 2006, water abstraction per capita was
283 cubic meters, the lowest since 1997.

Total water abstraction in 2008 was 3% higher than in 1997. In 2008, domestic and public
consumption was approximately 22% higher than in 1997, whereas agricultural
consumption – which constituted approximately 60% of all consumption – was
approximately 43% lower than in 1997. The decrease in freshwater consumption by
agriculture is primarily the result of the increased use of treated effluents, which has had
an impact on the decline in water abstraction per capita in Israel since 1997.

Water abstraction per capita in Israel is relatively low compared to developed Western
countries. In 2007, the average water abstraction per capita in the OECD countries (860
cubic meters) was almost three times higher than that of Israel.
( 73 )