La comptabilité nationale de l'eau en France : instrument d'analyse et de gestion patrimoniale

National water comptability in France: an instrument for analysing and managing

¹ IFEN
² BRGM

Abstract

Water has been counted, balanced and statistically assessed for many decades in a variety of situations ranging from a hydrologist's gauging station to the thrifty household's water meter. A new water accounting system is now proposed in order to connect and integrate all separate accounts in a macro-economic and patrimonial perspective. Why and how soould we account for water? Water is a raw material: we need to measure what is offered us by nature, what we take ourselves and what is offered us by nature, what we take for ourselves and what effects we produce on the water resource. By applying methods used in national economical accounting to the new science of ecological accounting, this instrument is intended to serve analysis and forecasters involved in water policy and management.