Extending water use statistics beyond what is traditionally accounted will provide governments with the information needed to manage their water resources and external water dependence in a comprehensive way. Traditional national water use accounts only refer to the water withdrawal within a country. They do not distinguish between water use for making products for domestic consumption and water use for producing export products. They also exclude data on water use outside the country related to the water footprint of consumption.
In addition, they include blue water use only, excluding green and grey water footprints. In order to support broader analyses and to better inform decision-making, the traditional national water use accounts need to be extended.