A European Commission report has found that water use in the European Union could be reduced by about 40%
A European Commission report has found that water use in the European Union could be reduced by about 40%. This figure is nearly twice as much as previously estimated.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "In a world plagued by increasing water scarcity and droughts we must urgently put an end to the tremendous waste of water across Europe. Water efficiency must be at the core of our policies. Enormous water savings are possible. Water saving behaviours by European citizens and industry must be actively encouraged and promoted."
The study commissioned by the Commission estimates that water efficiency could be improved by nearly 40% through technological improvements alone and that changes in human behaviour or production patterns could increase such savings further.
“In a world plagued by increasing water scarcity and droughts we must urgently put an end to the tremendous waste of water across Europe.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas
In a business as usual scenario it is estimated that water consumption by the public, industry and agriculture would increase by 16% by 2030. Conversely, the use of water saving technologies and irrigation management in the industrial and agricultural sectors could reduce excesses by as much as 43% while water efficiency measures could decrease water wastage by up to a third.
In the Communication on Water Scarcity and Droughts adopted in July 2007 the Commission identified an initial set of policy options to be taken to address water scarcity.
This set of proposed policies aims to move the EU towards a "user pays" principle for a water-saving economy.
