The condition of European waters is deplorable. Urgent action is needed

The European Union, like the rest of the world, is facing a water crisis, the cause of which is not only climate change, but also inadequate management of the resources we have. These were the main conclusions of a two-day EU GreenWeek conference held in Brussels at the end of May, which focused on building resilience to the water crisis. The event was attended by representatives of the European Commission, experts, European scientists local politicians. The panel discussions addressed a number of issues related to the water crisis, which we write about below.

The European Commission estimates that the ecological status of about 40 percent of surface waters in the EU, meaning rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters, is good. At the same time, the chemical status of only 38 percent of them was determined as good. At the same time, in some countries the condition of almost 100 percent of the waters was assessed as bad. However, these are figures from 2018, when the European Environment Agency issued its latest report on the matter (European waters. Assessment of status and pressures European waters. Assessment of status and pressures). The new, up-to-date version is expected to be ready by the end of this year. The situation is much worse when it comes to biodiversity data for water-dependent ecosystems, including wetlands.

European wetlands and the species that live there are on the verge of extinction

Only 17 percent. river, lake, alluvial and riparian habitats are protected at an adequate level, while for wetland habitats (i.e., marshes, peatlands, riparian meadows, forested wetlands and heathlands) it is only 9 percent. There is a clear downward trend in both groups. Of course, this leads to a loss of biodiversity, because as the wetlands we continue to drain disappear, the species that inhabit them die.

Attempts to preserve the protected species of fish and amphibians living in these ecosystems are inadequate (80 and 60 percent of the population, respectively), with the situation worsening for about half of both groups. However, the poor condition of wetlands is not only a loss of biodiversity, but also an increase in_CO2 emissions.

The European Commission has confirmed the fact of the negative impact of human activity on the hydrological cycle. This was the starting point for further disturbing summaries. Climate change is causing a decline in the ability of soils to absorb and retain rainwater, resulting in devastating flash floods.

We have disrupted the natural hydrological cycle – we are already paying a heavy price

Climate change causes torrential rains because water evaporates faster from the soil as a result of higher air temperatures. In addition, it contributes to exacerbating the drought phenomenon. As a result, the natural process of replenishing water reservoirs is disrupted. In previous years, local authorities in Spain and France, for example, have had to impose restrictions on the availability of resources. Recent UN reports indicate that in 2030. global demand for clean water will exceed available supplies by as much as 40 percent. In 2019. nearly 30 percent. EU territory was facing water shortages. Since 1970. We have lost_{1/3 of} freshwater ecosystems, and the number of species living in them has declined by an average of 83 percent.

Europe has a rather privileged position when it comes to drinking water, as it boasts one of the highest levels of water quality in the world, thanks to its consistent policies over the years. Water can be drunk straight from the tap, which is impossible in at least most Asian, African or Latin American countries.

Mismanagement causes more trouble

High quality is not enough. The European Commission stresses that the water crisis is getting worse, and we are doing little to counter it. We mismanage the resources we have, taking them for granted, meanwhile, as much as 28 percent. EU drinking water is disappearing through leaking water supply systems. This issue urgently requires modernization.

The European Union has prepared a series of policies and measures to rebuild water resources and make Europe more resilient to the crisis. Many of them were included in the European Green Deal. For example, the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) directs industry to become more efficient in its use of water; the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the new draft of which, if enacted, along with the European Parliament and Council Directive on the quality of water for human consumption, will change the process of urban water management and increase access to water. The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Minimum Requirements for the Reuse of Water has also come into force.

Green Deal, including Nature Restoration Law, can counter water crisis

Thanks to the recently voted Nature Restoration Law, albeit with resistance from Poland and Hungary, EU countries will be required to act to mitigate the effects of a disturbed hydrological cycle by improving retention, thereby reducing the incidence of natural disasters such as floods and droughts. With the NRL, member states are to compile an inventory of existing barriers on rivers and identify those that need to be removed in order to contribute to the restoration of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems and achieve the EU target of 25,000. km of free-flowing rivers.

In removing these barriers, member states will be asked to focus on obsolete facilities, i.e. those that are no longer needed for renewable energy production, inland navigation, water supply or other uses. The total length of surface water bodies in the EU is more than 1 million km, and it is estimated that at least 100,000. Outdated barriers cause fragmentation and damage to rivers.

Many of them are unused, unlicensed or simply unnecessary. They disrupt water quality and flow and contribute to the serious deterioration of surface water bodies in Europe. They affect the functioning and resilience of ecosystems, in particular by altering the natural transport of sediment and nutrients and blocking the migration of many declining freshwater fish populations. The planned 25 thousand. km represents about 2.1 percent. of the total length of surface water bodies, while experts estimate that about 2,500 would need to be removed to achieve this goal. barriers, accounting for 2.5 percent. of all.

Interestingly, the actions taken within the NRL, including those not related to water, are simply paying off. Experts estimate that for every 1 euro spent on them, as much as 8 will be returned.

Photo. main: Joanna Kedzierska