The United Nations world water development report 2021: valuing water

This report groups current methodologies and approaches to the valuation of water into five interrelated perspectives:

• valuing water sources, in situ water resources and ecosystems;
• valuing water infrastructure for water storage, use, reuse or supply augmentation;
• valuing water services, mainly drinking water, sanitation and related human health aspects;
• valuing water as an input to production and socio-economic activity, such as food and agriculture, energy and industry, business and employment; and other sociocultural values of water, including recreational, cultural and spiritual attributes.

These are complemented with experiences from different global regions; opportunities to reconcile multiple values of water through more integrated and holistic approaches to governance; approaches to financing; and methods to address knowledge, research and capacity needs.