Welcome to Vision Leadership Team ‘The Value of Water’

One month ago, Water Europe announced the launch of its new collaboration programme, bringing forward a reorganisation of the WE Vision Leadership Teams. The new VLT matrix is, overall, consisting of seven VLT teams, three horizontal, three vertical and a holistic one: The Value of Water.

The Value of Water differs from the other six VLTs due to its transversal nature. What is its mission? This VLT is here to build on the cross-cutting principles of the Water Europe’s vision, which anticipates the EU Green Deal and the related strategies, and delivers the common rationale based on the “true” value of water as basic principle to achieve a Water-Smart Society.

The Value of Water VLT will provide visionary insights for structuring efficient water socio-economic and governance systemic models in which research and innovation results can be validated and migration paths to the Water-Smart Society experimented.

The VLT is composed of five members coming from a variety of organisations:

-Jacob Bossaer, BOSAQ
-Phoebe Koundouri, Athena RC
-Dominique Darmendrail, BRGM
-Richard Elelman, Eurecat
-Arthur Valkieser, Hydraloop Systems

A special webinar will be organised within the next weeks where the VLT members will present the VLT’s mission, objectives and next plans. Stay tuned to learn more!

EEA analysis show economic losses of around half a trillion euros due to extreme weather events

The European Environmental Agency has released a new analysis showing economic losses from weather and climate-related extremes in Europe reaching around half a trillion euros over the past 40 years.

Europe is facing economic losses and fatalities from weather and climate extremes every year and in all regions of Europe. The economic impact of these events varies considerably across countries, the EEA assessment found. 

The assessment also found that the overwhelming amount of the fatalities — more than 85%  in the 40-year period — was due to heatwaves. The heatwave of 2003 caused most fatalities, representing between 50 and 75% of all fatalities from weather and climate-related events over the last four decades, according to the data.

MEP Water Group Online Webinar: How to make the energy efficiency directive Water-Smart? 8 Feb 2022

Don’t miss the new webinar organised by the MEP Water Group on the Energy Efficiency Directive. Tune in on Tuesday, the 8^th of February from 4.30 to 6.00 pm. to join the discussion and learn how are the EU efforts stimulated to promote energy efficiency and achieve energy savings, in the fight against climate change.

The Energy Efficiency Directive can contribute to the objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050. How can this directive fully embrace the energy-water nexus? How can the directive contribute to the sustainable digitalisation of Europe?

The event will be hosted by Pernille Weiss, chair of the MEP Water group, with the participation of Claudia Canevari, head of unit energy efficiency, DG ENER. The presentation will be followed by an exchange with the MEP Eleonora EVI, Greens, Italy and three representatives of the digital, energy and water sectors:

-Monica Frassoni, President of EU-ASE;
– Arnaud de Bermingham, President & founder of Scaleway;
– Durk Krol, Executive Director of Water Europe.

To register for the official event, please click here.

Water Europe joined two new EU expert groups on the Drinking Water Directive and the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform

Water Europe joined two new expert groups of the European Commission at the end of December.

Water Europe is now a member of the expert group on the Drinking Water directive. Claudia Topalli, IDEXX and Policy Advisory Committee member is our Water Europe representative. Durk Krol was also appointed in the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform with the objective to push the platform to deliver concrete outcomes with a transparent and holistic approach of pollution. Digitalisation and diffuse pollution have been identified as two key topics for Water Europe. 

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.