Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic (% of total freshwater withdrawal)

The metric evaluates the portion of total freshwater extracted for domestic purposes, encompassing a wide range of uses such as drinking water, sanitation, municipal services, and residential consumption. It specifically measures withdrawals that do not account for evaporation losses from storage systems and may include contributions from desalination where applicable. Notably, when combined withdrawals exceed the total renewable freshwater resources, it highlights the reliance on nonrenewable aquifers or the extensive reuse of treated wastewater. Such data, spanning from 1987 to 2002, provides crucial insights into national water management practices and the growing pressures on freshwater sources, essential for sustainable urban planning and resource allocation strategies. Source: