EUREAU is the European federation of national associations of drinking water suppliers and waste water services. EUREAU gather 10.000 water & waste water utilities & operators across Europe that provide sustainable water services to around 405 million consumers in Europe.
NEW:
EUREAU statement on water efficiency
05 May 2010
European Water suppliers welcome the efforts the Commission and countries are making to highlight and address the challenges of water scarcity and drought. EUREAU is confident that its members have already taken action and are implementing initiatives to address the issue of water scarcity to develop concrete long term solutions.
Over the past 10 years, its members have invested billions of Euros to improve both the quality and reliability of drinking water supplies across Europe. However we recognise that more still needs to be done particularly in consideration of the potential impacts of a changing climate and we will be working with the European Commission and the River Basin Planning authorities to ensure that these issues are fully addressed.
The first River Basin Management Plans have moved us closer to tackling some of these issues but more is required to be done in the second round of River Basin Management Planning which will need all sectors to play their full part in delivering the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Water scarcity cannot be solved by water suppliers alone and all abstractors of water from the environment have an important part to play, as well as consumers. EUREAU is committed to working with all interested parties to find the most efficient economic solutions to the challenge of water scarcity and drought and our priority will be to ensure that the impact of cost to water consumers is minimised.
One of the key elements to be considered is water recycling and reuse, as much as possible: this way of doing more with the same amount of water must be thoroughly studied and implemented wherever possible.
EUREAU notes the Commission has quoted a study published in 2007 to estimate that there is potential to make up to 40% savings in water use. The study presents a wide range of potential measures to save water, however the report does not provide an analysis of the feasibility or economics of achieving these savings, which obviously depends on the starting point. EUREAU members’ actions have already resulted in a reduction in water abstracted for drinking water purposes, up to 30% in some utilities, and EUREAU is keen to work with the Commission to understand how these further water savings can be achieved, the feasibility and cost implications concerning devices and water supply for consumers across Europe. EUREAU members want to see these issues properly addressed in the next river basin management plans and we will be working with Planners and the Commission to ensure that robust evidence and plans are in place for the second cycle.
Press contact: Marta Gomez Andres - Tel: +32 (0)491 050 893.
Related Article: EU to table directive on water savings in buildings (EurActiv 02 April 2010)
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