Water deficit resilience strategy – EC begins work

As part of its work on a water deficit resilience strategy, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) prepared an exploratory opinion at the request of the European Commission entitled: Approaches and best industrial and technological practices for a water deficit resilient society. According to the opinion, a separate strategy and action plan is needed to ensure resilience to water scarcity, as well as to enhance water security and sustainability in this area.

Water deficit resilience strategy

The water deficit resilience strategy is one of the items included in the European Commission’s policy guidelines for 2024-2029. We wrote about the work to date on the Water Deficit Resilience in the Face of Drought and Climate Change initiative in a previous article:Water Deficit Resilience Initiative in the Face of Drought and Climate Change.

Prepared by the EESC, the opinion responds to the European Commission’s request for an exploratory opinion, which deepens the analysis carried out in the document entitled Water-intensive sectors and water-efficient technologies and focuses on the implementation of the EU Blue Deal’s guiding principles and actions in the framework relating to industry.

In the EESC’s view, approaches and best industrial and technological practices for a water-wise society should be closely linked to a comprehensive policy for sustainable industrial water management, based on reducing water consumption, reusing and recycling resources, increasing storage and reducing pollution, and gradually introducing and using water-efficient technologies, while ensuring a just transition that protects industrial competitiveness.

How to achieve resilience to water scarcity?

According to the EESC, in order for a sector to become water efficient, reduce consumption, treat water and recycle it, it is necessary:

• Develop a European ecosystem for water data management;
• Measure water consumption in all production processes;
• Minimize the use of potable water for industrial purposes;
• Identify the current state of the EU’s sewer infrastructure and develop an upgrade plan;
• Define standards and targets for water consumption at the sector and enterprise levels;
• Designate a trained team of people (management and staff) in industrial plants responsible for water efficiency, ensure constant communication with employees, and conduct water literacy training;
• Share industry best practices and technological approaches through a stakeholder platform to encourage the spread of these practices and approaches.

Resilience to water deficit in industrial transformation

Water scarcity resilience can be defined as society’s ability to adapt and respond to changes in the availability of water resources forced by socio-ecological factors. Water scarcity resilience should be one of the goals of the revised EU Industrial Strategy and Blue Deal.

The EU Blue Deal declarations state that water should be a core element of the EU’s industrial strategy, to be implemented within two years. In the EESC’s view, changes to the strategic framework, including a multi-year investment plan and alignment of water infrastructure funding, skills, technology and research, are needed to address the water challenge and decarbonization policy.

Changing industrial transformation pathways should, within two years, enable the sector to adopt approaches that lead to water efficiency. Given existing technologies, some industrial ecosystems can become water-efficient quickly, while those that need more time to adapt will need to adopt a medium- to long-term approach that allows for gradual change.

The EESC proposes to identify sectors with high water demand in resource- and energy-intensive industries, including textiles, steel, hotels, catering, tourism, apparel, agriculture, food production, chemicals, paper, energy, construction, mining, data centers and automotive. Given the special challenges they will face as water scarcity increases, high-demand industries should benefit from tailored action plans combined with financial support. This will make them increasingly sustainable in terms of water management by introducing appropriate practices and technologies, provided they have the necessary human resources.

Resilience to water scarcity – measures proposed by the EESC

In the EESC’s view, systematic improvements in water infrastructure are key to more water-efficient industrial management. Reusing and recycling water and using less water should become the norm in industry. The EESC notes that there are already good practices that are yielding positive results.

Water companies, utilities, industry and households should be part of a data stream that provides essential information on water availability and use, helping to create a more water-efficient society.

As the EESC notes, technology alone cannot solve the water problem. Given the importance of this resource for development and growth, we need to create a culture of water and raise awareness about it in European society. Special water consumption labels should be established for water-efficient products. A common definition of low water impact products or services should also be developed at the EU level.

Since efficient water management begins at the plant level, the EESC believes that a special team of people (management and staff) responsible for water efficiency should be appointed and a clear action plan should be adopted to reduce freshwater consumption, ensure detection and repair of leaks through more frequent inspections, install smart meters and implement clean technologies (water- and energy-efficient), treat water after use, reuse it and reduce industrial pollution.