New EU environmental norms to make chemical and textile industry plants greener

Some 3000 chemical and 300 textile industry plants in the EU will have to comply with new legal norms adopted under the EU Industrial Emissions Directive to reduce their environmental impact.

The new European Commission Decisions refer to the management and treatment of waste gas in the chemical sector and a series of activities in the textile industry. They stem from a coordinated effort by stakeholders, including industry, to agree on Best Available Techniques (BATs). This is another step towards the Zero Pollution ambition.

In particular, the new norm for the textile sector has an emphasis on emissions to air and water targeting over 20 pollutants. The new norm focuses also on environmental issues relevant to circular economy – including water efficiency. To learn more, click here.

New Global Risk Report 2023

On January 11, the World Economic Forum has released the Global Risk Report 2023 to explore some of the most severe risks we may face over the next decade. 

The report describes four potential futures centred around food, water and metals and mineral shortages, all of which could spark a humanitarian as well as an ecological crisis, from water wars and famines to continued overexploitation of ecological resources and a slowdown in climate mitigation and adaption.

There is also a closer look at water scarcity and the lack of overall cooperation on these international issues. The report is underpinned by our annual Global Risks Perception Survey, which brings together leading insights from over 1,200 experts across the World Economic Forum’s diverse network.

Check out the full report here.

Webinar: Biologically-inspired design for a Water-Smart Society, February 17

Join us on 17 February 2023 at 16.00 CET for the Water Europe webinar on Biologically-inspired design for a Water-Smart society. It will introduce bio-inspired innovation as an opportunity to increase efficiency and effectiveness of water systems in line with Water Europe’s vision Vision of for a water-smart society Water-Smart Society and the White Paper “Opportunities for Hybrid Grey and Green Infrastructure in water management: Challenges and ways forward​“.

The White paper is the product of a joint quest by the Water Europe’s Vision Leadership Team Grey-Green Infrastructure, and the Working Groups on Nature-based Solutions, Ecosystem Services and Water Distribution Infrastructure. Lead speaker will be dr Alessandro Bianciardi, biomimicry practitioner and co-founder of Planet-Nature Inspired Technology.

Nature has always provided a constant source of inspiration. The more we deepen our knowledge of nature, its components and their relationships, the more we discover that the problems nature solved in 4 billion years of evolution are similar to the ones confronting our society. Nature had to learn how to gather and efficiently store energy and water; how to manufacture at ambient conditions, how to build structures using locally abundant materials; and how to build cooperative societies and make them adaptable and resilient to crisis. Ultimately, nature designed and built thriving and sustainable circular economies, known as ecosystems.

Nature Inspired innovation encompasses two categories: Nature-Based Solution, which is the use of nature to provide ecosystem services for global societal challenges, and Biologically-Inspired Design that is the abstraction and translation of biological principles into human-made technology. A sort of reverse engineering of living systems that lies at the heart of hybrid green-grey infrastructure, integrating blue-green, grey, and smart water technologies for a reliable, efficient, and effective performance.

This webinar aims at introducing Biologically-Inspired Design, to explore how it could support innovation in water resources management, for instance in the WE Water-Oriented Living Labs, and how the water sector could benefit from it.

You you can attend the webinar by registering at this link.

Untapping potential in a green transition at the Grundfos event

On the 12th of January 2023, Water Europe was present at the event ‘Water efficiency in industry: the untapped potential in a green transition, held at the European Parliament and hosted by Pernille Weiss, GRUNDFOS,  State of Green Denmark and the Danish water Industries Conferederation.

With a line up of high-level EU speakers, the event debated how industries can overcome the challenges of water in a sustainable and efficient way. Both public and private decision-makers are working to accelerate water-efficient solutions in the industry as a vital answer to water scarcity.

The key messages to take home are:

✅Europe must lead us to invest in ambitious action plans to achieve a Water-Smart Society, through resource efficiency, nexus approaches and partnerships;

✅European stakeholders need to partner and commit together, including Members States, to ensure sustainable water management and availability;

✅Industries should no longer look at the short-term water investment but at the total costs, including the one of doing nothing;
 
✅We need to ensure that Europe stays a front-runner for water-smart and efficient industry, and lead by example.

WMO Report on ‘State of Global Water Resources 2021’

The World Meteorological Organization has published its first State of Global Water Resources report in order to assess the effects of climate, environmental and societal change on the Earth’s water resources.

The aim of this annual stocktake is to support the monitoring and management of global freshwater resources in an era of growing demand and limited supplies.

You can read the full report here. 

New EEA Report on Zero Pollution has been published

On the 8^th December 2022, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) have published the first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report.

The monitoring, prepared by the EEA, presents the progress and situation of achieving the zero pollution targets, the latest evidence on the effects of pollution on health, biodiversity and its links to circular economy. The outlook, prepared by the Joint Research Centre, assesses, where possible, the likely evolution of pollution by 2030 in relation to the ZP targets taking into account agreed or proposed actions. It gives as strong evidence base for action on zero pollution.

You will find all the information on the evidence published today on the official website.

Interview with Jorge Malfeito, Director of Innovation Water Business Acciona & WE Board Member of college A ‘Multinational Corporations’

You are a Water Europe board member of college A ‘Multinational Corporations’- Could you tell us what drives you personally to have this role at Water Europe? What do you want to achieve?

As a Director of Innovation of the water business of Acciona, Water Europe is the perfect framework aiming to promote the research, development and innovation of the European water sector. The platform also advocates for policies that support the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of water quality. By fostering collaboration and supporting research and innovation, Water Europe aims to contribute to the advancement of the water sector and the development of solutions to challenges facing the sector.

Why do you consider it important for ACCIONA to be part of Water Europe?

ACCIONA’s expertise and experience in the water sector could potentially contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge within Water Europe and help advance the development of the European water sector. In addition, being a member of Water Europe gives us opportunities for collaboration and networking within the water sector and participation in policy development in the water and the environment in Europe.

Which ones do you consider the biggest challenges of the European water sector, at the moment, and how do you see us overcoming them?

There are a number of challenges facing the European water sector at the moment. Some of the key challenges include climate change, water scarcity, water pollution and aging infrastructure. To overcome these hurdles, it will be necessary for the European water sector to adopt a holistic approach that addresses multiple issues simultaneously. This may involve implementing innovative technologies and practices to improve water efficiency and management, promoting the use of alternative water sources, such as reuse and desalination, and strengthening regulatory frameworks to protect water quality and manage water resources. It will also be important to engage stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and communities, in finding solutions to these challenges.

Building a water-smart society is our vision. Which actions shall we prioritise to make this happen?

To build a water-smart society, there are several actions that can be prioritized. First improving water efficiency, implementing technologies and practices and the adoption of water-saving measures. Second, promoting water conservation and encouraging individuals and organizations to use water resources wisely and efficiently can help to reduce demand and preserve water resources. It is also crucial to protect water quality, ensuring that water resources are free from pollution and contaminants, and also to managing water resources sustainably. Finally, any of the others wouldn’t be possible without the engagement of stakeholders. Building a water-smart society requires the participation and engagement of governments, businesses, communities and individuals. By engaging these stakeholders, it will be possible to build a more sustainable and resilient water-smart society.

New event coming up: Water efficiency in industry- Register by 02/01

Join us on January 12th and take part in a discussion on how industry can mitigate and overcome the challenges of water in a sustainable and efficient way.

Water is an essential resource for our society, nations and the industries supporting the growth we aim for. While water scarcity is discussed as global resource challenge, it is today also becoming a European issue with water scarcity and droughts emerging across Europe and in some areas have become the new normal. The water scarcity issue poses threats to our people, nature and not least our economy as it a vital input to our production of food, building material and industries.

According to the UN, industry today represents 50% of the total water consumption in Europe. Therefore, when meeting the demands of our European societies in the future, water resources in industries need to be utilised in a more efficient and sustainable way. Not only to meet the demands but also to minimise the rising risks of water shortage as input for the production of goods and infrastructure.

The technical potential to save water in industrial processes is 75%, but today only a few percent of water is being reused. To catch the untapped potential of water efficiency in industries, ambitious regulatory frameworks and goals need to be addressed by the EU. How can industry really contribute to a water-smart society?

Registrations open until 02 January 2023. Check the full programme and register here.

New EU-funded project WATERVERSE has started its activities

How can we make water data management accessible, affordable, secure, fair, and easy to use? This autumn, a new EU-funded project saw the light, committed to do exactly that. WATERVERSE project, funded by European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, aims at developing a Water Data Management Ecosystem (WDME) for making data management practices and resources in the water sector accessible, affordable, secure, fair, and easy to use, improving the usability of data and the interoperability of data-intensive processes.

Digitalisation is a key enabler for the water sector, which can be leveraged to implement strategic policy commitments and directives at national, European and international levels. Data-intensive technologies are being adopted in the water sector but the actual use of data is hindered by strong data ownership approaches due to the perception that data sharing is a risk for confidentiality leakage, security aspects of critical infrastructures, unclear business models, poor quality of data, as well as the fragmentation and conservative attitude of the end-users.

The three-year project is now stepping in to blend together competencies from the water domain technology providers and innovation companies, as well as the technical community that is driving the development of data spaces, thus increasing the resilience of the water sector and water utilities, as a whole. The project will be demonstrated in 6 countries (Cyprus, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and the UK), establishing clear and measurable indicators to assess data equity in water-related data spaces and ensuring feasibility and the sustainability of the ecosystem, as well as its replicability, scalability and business applicability.

WATERVERSE brings great expertise on board, combining the skills of 17 partners from 10 European countries, including research organizations, water service companies, technology providers and innovation companies. Water Europe is among the consortium’s partners, leading the Communication and Dissemination activities. The kick-off meeting of the project was held on the 11th and 12th of October 2022, in Thessaloniki, Greece, hosted by the project’s coordinator CERTH.

Interested in the project’s developments? Follow its social media LinkedIn, Twitter.

Hans Goossens, President’s Editorial, Winter 2022

Dear Water Europe friends,

2022 is coming to a close, and here at Water Europe, we keep busy on several different fronts.

Last month, the European Commission published the proposal for the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). An in-depth REFIT evaluation of the UWWTD from 1991 showed that it has significantly reduced the adverse effects of wastewater discharges from urban sources into the environment. This proposal now focuses on the quality of rivers, lakes, groundwaters, and seas through cost-effective wastewater treatment. This is actually the next step for building a Water-Smart society through a resource-oriented and energy-driven approach to wastewater treatment, stimulating a circular economy model.

In November, I had the opportunity to represent Water Europe at the Water and Climate event: What COP27 means to you. It was an opportunity to talk about the role of water in relation to climate change, both from the viewpoint of climate change mitigation, as well as climate change adaptation. To this end, the Water-Oriented Living Labs will play an important role, in line with the EU’s ambitions for climate neutrality 2030.

During the previous period, we also hosted two Water Project Europe editions. The first one was held in the context of the 17th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control 2022, as a clustering workshop that brought together experts presenting real-life experiences from different Nature-based solution (NBS) projects and initiatives. The second WPE edition took place during ECOMONDO, titled ”Challenges and eco-innovation actions addressing water scarcity and drought in Mediterranean countries’ . This event was also co-organised and co-chaired by the European Commission (REA), and the Scientific-Technical Committee of ECOMONDO. Both occasions were very important for bringing forward the significant results of promising projects working towards circular economy.

With the UN Water Conference 2023 approaching in the new year, Water Europe is making all the necessary preparations to voice its vision for a Water-Smart society and amplify its messages. This is crucial for us. We stand for building a Water-Smart society and thanks to the hard work and contributions of our ambassadors, our members, and the whole network, we set in 2022 another step closer to making it happen. With this, I would like to thank you all for your commitment and wish you all a happy festive period. 2022 was a great year for Water Europe and its community, and we expect an even better 2023 to come.