IW Projects do not normally carry out new research or repeat studies already undertaken. The aim of the TDA is to use existing data/information and analyse it in a more interdisciplinary/holistic manner. The amount of data and information available will vary from project to project. Some regions are data rich whilst others are data poor. For most IW projects, it is likely that data and information for the TDA:

• Will come from multiple sources
• May often be difficult to access
• May not be entirely appropriate
• Will often be uncoordinated in its generation and use
• May be intentionally or unintentionally inaccurate

Furthermore, much of the data and information will have been collected at the national level and will need to be either:

• Aggregated with other data sets
• Disaggregated if national data needs to be examined at a more local/basin level

In general the aim is to identify high quality data, preferably with some degree of quality assurance, quality check or peer review  - although this may not always be possible. Often data may have no QA/QC or will not peer reviewed.