Urgent Action Needed as EEA’s State of Water Report Reveals Alarming Water Stress Across Europe

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released its latest State of Water Report, highlighting critical challenges for water resources across Europe and calling for immediate action. The findings reveal growing water stress, which now affects 20% of the European territory and 30% of the population, pushing water scarcity into the spotlight as a major concern for more regions than ever before.

Water scarcity, once considered primarily a Southern European issue, is now spreading to northern and central parts of the continent, including Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, and Romania. The severe droughts seen in recent years across places like Sicily, Barcelona, and Berlin underscore the vital importance of water for both society and ecosystems.

Growing Pressure on Water Resources

According to the report, water abstraction—the process of extracting water from natural sources—continues to rise, with a 10% increase for public water supply between 2010 and 2019. This comes despite high levels of distribution losses, averaging 30%, and even reaching 70% in some regions. With climate change expected to increase water demand, the need to address these inefficiencies is becoming ever more urgent.

Solutions for a Sustainable Future

To tackle these challenges, the report stresses the importance of improving water efficiency. Simple, proven solutions like water metering—which monitors water consumption in real-time and alerts users to potential leaks—can reduce waste and create positive behavioral changes. Water metering is especially impactful in the building sector, which accounts for 28% of total water abstraction across the EU.

The EEA’s report calls for these measures to be at the heart of the upcoming Water Resilience Strategy, which aims to build a more water-secure and sustainable Europe.

For more details on the EEA’s findings and recommendations, access the full report here.