{"id":50765,"date":"2026-05-05T07:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T05:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=blog&p=50765"},"modified":"2026-05-05T08:38:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T06:38:22","slug":"water-in-europa-onder-druk-tijd-voor-oplossingen","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/water-in-europa-onder-druk-tijd-voor-oplossingen\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe\u2019s water under pressure: how to secure water systems"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n
\n
\n

Share on: <\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Six concrete actions and practical case studies demonstrate how Europe can strengthen its water systems<\/a> in the face of growing challenges, according to Sweco\u2019s Urban Insight report <\/strong>\u2018Too much, too little, too polluted \u2014 Taking on Europe\u2019s water challenges’ .<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Clean water is no longer a given<\/h2>\n

Across the continent, access to clean, safe water has long been taken for granted. Turning on the tap and expecting high-quality water has been a cornerstone of public health, economic development and social stability. For decades, Europe\u2019s water services have been among the continent\u2019s great infrastructure successes. Today, that assumption is increasingly being challenged.<\/p>\n

The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports that 32% of Europe\u2019s groundwater<\/a> is under pressure from diffuse pollution. While floods dominate headlines, a silent crisis of scarcity is unfolding. Water stress affects roughly 20% of Europe\u2019s territory and 30% of its population annually.<\/p>\n

Climate change, ageing infrastructure, rising demand and contaminants such as PFAS \u2013 the so-called \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 \u2013 are putting unprecedented pressure on drinking water and wastewater systems.<\/p>\n

Why source to tap \u2013 and back to nature \u2013 matters<\/h2>\n

Prolonged droughts, record\u2011breaking heatwaves and changing rainfall patterns are turning water scarcity from an exception into a recurring reality. In Europe,\u00a0electricity production and cooling account for around 33% of total water abstraction, followed by\u00a0agriculture (31%),\u00a0public water supply (21%),\u00a0manufacturing (14%) and\u00a0mining (1%).<\/p>\n

Around\u00a065% of Europe\u2019s drinking water is supplied by groundwater<\/a>. In several countries, these resources are under increasing pressure from\u00a0the use of pesticides, nitrate pollution and insufficient protection of recharge areas. At the same time, emerging micro-pollutants \u2013 including PFAS, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals \u2013 have now been detected in most water bodies and are\u00a0difficult and costly to remove.<\/p>\n

As a result, only a\u00a0minority of Europe\u2019s surface waters and groundwater<\/a> bodies\u00a0currently achieve good ecological or chemical status, underscoring the scale of the pollution challenge.<\/p>\n

Water costs and investment gaps<\/h2>\n

Across Europe, household water use and pricing vary significantly, reflecting differences in infrastructure, consumption patterns and local policy. Average household consumption is about 125 litres per person per day, but water tariffs differ widely between countries.<\/p>\n

Despite these differences, investment in water efficiency and infrastructure remains insufficient, especially where tariffs are low. Sweco\u2019s analysis shows that current water prices in many countries cover only a fraction of the long-term costs needed for infrastructure renewal, climate adaptation<\/a> and advanced treatment of micro-pollutants.<\/p>\n

Implementing quaternary treatment as part of advanced wastewater treatment<\/a> could increase domestic water costs by around 6%, while broader environmental and societal impacts are still largely not reflected in pricing.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

6 practical solutions for moving forward<\/h3>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"rioleringspijp\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Recognising the real, long-term cost of water is essential \u2013 not to make it more expensive, but to ensure robust, resilient systems capable of delivering safe water for generations. Sweco experts recommend the following practical ways to strengthen water systems<\/a>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Make water risk assessments a standard requirement<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Develop municipal water strategies<\/strong> with clear risk analyses<\/li>\n
  3. Plan and finance<\/strong> the renewal of ageing infrastructure<\/li>\n
  4. Conduct regular water risk and resilience assessments<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Integrate water risk into credit, investment and insurance decisions<\/strong><\/li>\n
  6. Use land-use planning and nature-based solutions<\/a><\/strong> to reduce risks<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
    \n\t
    \n\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n
    \n
    \n
    <\/i><\/figure>\n

    Water challenges do not stand alone; they are closely interconnected. An integrated systems approach is essential to manage risks and make water systems<\/a> sustainably future\u2011proof.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    No\u00e9mi Van Bogaert<\/strong>, Expert Water and co-auteur<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

    \n\t
    \n\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t

    Water projects in action<\/h2>\n

    The report highlights a range of best practice projects to strengthen water systems<\/a> across Europe. Every project demonstrates how expertise and collaboration can safeguard water supply, ecosystems and public health for generations to come. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n