Poorly managed water

How water is (mis)managed in Europe

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  Almost 10% of groundwaters are affected by unsustainably high levels of water withdrawals
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  Only 2.4% of wastewater is reused, with big differences per country
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  Almost a quarter of treated water is lost during distribution

What's the solution?

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  Agriculture

  Agriculture and energy are the biggest users of water in the EU. And 25% of the world's freshwater is used to produce food that’s never eaten! Inefficient irrigation methods, such as flood irrigation or excessive use of water for crops, lead to water wastage and inefficient use. Healthy soils are champions in storing water. Improving our soil health is good for agriculture and helps to prevent or decrease flash floods as water infiltrates much better than in compacted soils. 

  What’s the solution?

  • improving irrigation techniques through smart meters, re-using treated water
  • using practices like crop rotation, selecting water-efficient crops, and enhancing soil health
  • integrating agro-ecological methods such as agroforestry and permanent pastures
• 
  Energy

  Our green and digital transition comes with a water bill. Water is used to produce electricity, bioenergy, hydrogen, fossil fuels and for cooling in nuclear and thermal power plants. Cooling power plants is responsible for 32% of water withdrawals in Europe. The transition to low-emission energy sources needs to reduce pressure on scarce water resources.

  What’s the solution? 

  • moving away from water-intensive energy generation and focusing on alternatives like wind, solar, and geothermal power
  • conserving energy to save water
  • enhancing energy efficiency
  • using advanced cooling technologies

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  Improving infrastructure

  Inadequate infrastructure for storing, treating and distributing water prevents effective water management. Leaky pipes, outdated treatment facilities, and insufficient reservoirs contribute to water loss and inefficiency. On average, 23% of treated water is lost during distribution in the EU. 

  What’s the solution?

  • fix leaking infrastructure
  • implement smart water metering
  • integrate water efficiency
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  Recognise the true value of water

  When water is not priced at its true value, it can lead to wasteful usage and hinder efforts to promote conservation and responsible water management. Under updated EU rules on treating urban wastewater, the Polluter Pays Principle with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) applies to producers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics that pollute waters. This means they need to pay for their removal. 

   What’s the solution? 

  • an affordable price for water, without incentivizing excessive water use 
  • targeted support for those who need it
  • phase out of subsidies leading to unsustainable uses of water
  • integrate water efficiency
  • systematic consideration of applying the polluters pays principle through extended producer responsibility 

Did you know?

Competition for limited water resources can cause tensions and conflicts between countries and communities, especially as water scarcity worsens. This can lead to instability and forced migration, affecting socio-economic development. Managing shared water bodies together is important, as they often cross borders and require cooperation to avoid disputes.

Over 60% of European rivers are transboundary, flowing through more than one country. Just think of the Danube, Rhine, and the Oder, where waterways play vital roles in water management, and environmental cooperation among the countries they traverse.

See how cooperating across borders on the Danube became a catalyst for peace.

Actions on the ground

Recycling water or fixing a leak in your house stops water being wasted and saves you money. There are plenty of other small changes that you can make in your life to reduce your water footprint. Check out and download the poster for the Best Tips for Protecting Water Resources, shared by our #WaterWiseEU partner, the Federal Ministry Republic of Austria.

Many national and local authorities, and EU-funded and local projects are taking action to address poor water management.