Registrations are open for Water Market Europe 2022

As Europe aims to reach climate neutrality and a circular economy by 2050, we need to develop new models and symbiotic solutions for industrial water. That’s why Water Market Europe 2022 is coming up on March 31. The event will offer you the chance to address challenges and boost your business by matchmaking stakeholder needs and knowledge providers for efficient solutions for industrial water management.

This edition of WME 2022 is supported by the EU funded ULTIMATE Project (Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis). Water Market Europe 2022 offers problem owners and solution providers the opportunity to boost their business by presenting:
-Industrial water management problems that require innovative solutions;
-Solutions that have a terrific market opportunity for utilities and industrial users.

Find out more info and register for the event here.

Commission launches new watch list to monitor the potential presence of 2 endocrine disruptors in drinking water

Yesterday, following a decision by the Commission, drinking water across the EU will have to be monitored more closely for the potential presence of two endocrine-disrupting compounds (beta-estradiol and nonylphenol) throughout the whole water supply chain.

As required by EU rules on drinking water in force since last year, the Commission established yesterday a first ‘watch list’ of emerging compounds to monitor and address if needed.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “There can be no compromise on the quality standards for our tap water. Today we are giving effect to new rules that not only prevent well-known pollutants but also give us tools to address emerging concerns. We start with two substances that are endocrine disruptors affecting our health, the environment and biodiversity.” 

Now that the watch list is established, Member States have until 12 January 2023 to put in place monitoring requirements throughout the drinking water supply chain, as well as take measures if guidance values are exceeded.

Over time, if new substances emerge that are likely to be present in drinking water and could pose a potential health risk – such as endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals or microplastics – the Commission will add them to the list. 

This new mechanism will contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Chemicals Strategy and of the Zero Pollution Action Plan for a toxic-free environment. 

The EU Water alliance sent an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen

 The EU Water alliance sent an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission to get clarification on the EC work programme 2022 resulting from several meetings with 16 different Commissioners, cabinets and the Slovenian Presidency of the EU.

What is the EU Water Alliance? It is a coalition of European members-based organisations representing the wide range of water stakeholders across the entire value chain (associations, NGOs, universities, large water users, SMEs, water operators and local authorities). In 2020, they released a manifesto to stress the need for a Water-Smart Society in Europe and beyond.

To learn how these discussions translated into the Work Programme 2022, check the full letter here. 

The Water Convention wants to hear your successful story

The 2022 marks the 30^th anniversary of the Water Convention, which was adopted in Helsinki in 1992. On this occasion, the Water Convention Secretariat is looking for success stories on the Convention’s benefits for people, economies, the environment and peace.

These success stories will form the basis of a publication on the Convention’s impact around the globe which will be presented at the anniversary event taking place in Tallinn, Estonia, in the end of June 2022 (more information to follow).

Governments and other key stakeholders are invited to provide concrete success stories from their experience in implementing the Water Convention. Your success story can highlight the Convention’s social, economic and environmental impacts, its benefits for peace and conflict prevention as well as other benefits in different regional settings over the past three decades.

You can submit your success story using the attached form ( in English, French or Russian) by Friday, 4 February 2022, to water.convention@un.org.

Please note that you might be contacted by e-mail for more information or an interview. If you have any questions, get in touch with Water Convention.

Apply for the Innovation Challenge ‘Digital solutions for Energy Efficiency’ by 17 March 2022

The Water Test Network project establishes a transnational network of testing facilities in North West Europe to test, demonstrate and develop new products for the water sector. In this way, new innovations will be developed and it will accelerate time to market. The transnational network of testing facilities offers operational demonstration sites with a range of water types in rural and urban settings.

For the latest innovation challenge, the Water Test Network is looking for SMEs who are developing digital or sensing solutions to monitor and to reduce the energy consumption level of water treatment facilities. Developments should be at least at TRL 4. You will be in a position to showcase and finetune your digital solutions in a real test environment. This can either be a drinking water production centre or a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The innovation must be cost-effective and sustainable. SMEs, preferentially located in the North West European region, can apply by submitting an application form no later than 17 March 2022 at 12 pm.

For more information, please click here.

The state of Global Wetlands in 2021: New Report

Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, the Global Wetland Outlook: Special Edition 2021 draws on more than 30 major global and regional assessments and other recent scientific findings. It describes the pandemic and its implications, trends in wetlands since 2018, lessons for wetland wise use and protection, and how the Convention on Wetlands can be leveraged to address challenges facing wetlands.

The challenges addressed in the Report cover:

🔹The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we think about health and the environment, with more recognition of the importance of nature for health, including mental wellbeing.
🔹People’s health and livelihoods depend on well-managed wetlands.
🔹Deterioration of wetlands is widespread, but more wetlands are still reported as in ‘good’ rather than ‘bad’ ecological character.
🔹Wetlands need to be part of delivering climate solutions.
🔹Impacts of agriculture on wetlands are becoming more apparent: Agriculture is a key driver of wetland degradation, but the future of sustainable food production is dependent on healthy wetlands and wise use.
🔹Enhanced integration and co-ordination are needed across the agriculture, urban development and wetland management sectors.

Global Risk Report 2022 predicts water scarcity as a key driver for migration

The World Economic Forum has recently published the Global Risks Report 2022 to examine how global divergence across multiple domains in the post-COVID-19 recovery threatens to widen disparities and aggravate societal fractures.

Drawing upon insights from over 950 experts and decision-makers worldwide, the 17^th edition of the report unpacks some of the critical global tensions that may worsen the pandemic’s cascading impacts and complicate the coordination needed to tackle common challenges that include strengthening climate action, enhancing digital safety, restoring livelihoods and societal cohesion, and managing competition in space. 

Although the movement restrictions related to COVID-19 interrupted some migration flows, climate change is considered a key driver of migration. More frequent and extreme weather events— including fires, floods and droughts—could displace more than 200 million people by 2050.

Particularly, water scarcity is likely to drive people to move from their original countries because of its impact on health and livelihoods as well as the conflicts it risks triggering. The report also states:

-Physical and mental health impacts from harmful chemical or other particulates in the air, water or food, which may stem from energy generation, industrial and agricultural practices, waste management failures, natural disasters, human behaviour and other sources

-Chemical, food, mineral, water or other natural resource crises at a global scale as a result of human overexploitation and/or mismanagement of critical natural resources.

5 takeaways from the programme of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union

Following the recent visit of Ursula von der Leyen in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron is ready to take over his role for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2022.

The main priorities of the next programme will follow the achievements of the Slovenian Presidency and the European Commission’s work programme for 2022. 

Some of the priorities announced by France for its presidency include:

1) enforce the Green Deal and coordinate work around four main components: accelerating the transition to a decarbonised economy to become climate neutral by 2050;
2) bolstering measures to preserve biodiversity;
3) promoting a more circular and sustainable economy;
4) achieving the transition towards healthier environment by reducing the impact of pollution on the environment and on health;
5) fight against climate change and the promotion of sustainable development will be actioned in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors.

If you want to read the full programme for the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, click here.

Horizon Impact Award 2022 contest open: apply by 8 March 2022

The European Commission is launching a brand new edition of the Horizon Impact Award – a prize dedicated to EU-funded projects whose results have created societal impact across Europe and beyond. The prize acknowledges and rewards the most influential and impactful project results under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), the EU research and innovation programme, and its predecessor, the 7th Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013).

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:
“We want to highlight the importance of ensuring that research, innovation and science translate into concrete benefits for the citizens and society. Horizon Impact Award puts the spotlight on projects and the people behind them that have contributed towards transformative impacts on the economy, society and policymaking – leading to advancements across different fields. I look forward to seeing many excellent examples of how EU-funded research contributes to shaping a better world.”

Deadline of application: 8 March 2022. Find out more info and send you application here.

Use of freshwater resources in Europe shows a decreasing trend despite higher agricultural pressure

The latest indicatory assessment published by the European Environment Agency shows water abstraction and economic growth in the EU decoupling over the period 2000–2017. Total water abstraction declined by 17 %, while total gross value added generated from all economic sectors increased by 59 %. However, water scarcity conditions and drought events continue to cause significant risks in southern Europe, as well as in specific areas of other European regions.

Agriculture remained the sector exerting the highest pressure on renewable freshwater resources overall, being responsible for 59 % of total water use in Europe in 2017. This is mainly because of the agriculture levels in southern Europe.

In 2017, 64 % of total water abstraction was from rivers and 24 % from groundwater.

Annual renewable freshwater resources per inhabitant showed a decreasing trend across all regions except Eastern Europe over the period 1990-2017. Large decreases were observed in Spain (-65 %), Malta (-54 %) and Cyprus (-32 %). Climate change and population increase exerted high pressures on renewable freshwater resources in Europe over this period.

The increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme droughts and floods enhance the risk of there being reduced volumes of renewable freshwater resources in the future.