This document discusses water issues and policy in Europe. It notes that water is an essential but unevenly distributed resource that is managed locally. The EU has developed a legal framework for water management through various directives since the 1970s, culminating in the 2000 Water Framework Directive which established an integrated approach. However, implementation of the directive's goals has faced challenges. The 2012 review concluded that partnership between sectors is needed to make progress on water management issues which require innovation in governance, infrastructure, and knowledge. Open questions remain about balancing economic and environmental needs around water resources.

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European Systemic Seminars2013
Knowledge for the future of the knowledge society
September 20, 2013, Charleroi, Belgium
WATER: A TRIGGER FOR INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP
Frédéric de Hemptinne
The Sustainable Synergies Group
fdh@sustainable-synergies.eu
20 September 2013 European Systemic Seminar 2013 1

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• Generally abundant on earth but unevenly
distributed (only 3% is freshwater of which surface
water represents less than 1%)
• Unique set of physico-chemical properties due to
high electric polarity of H2O molecule
• Oceans (71% surface) regulate Earth’s climate
• Solvent role that makes it a prerequisite for life. It is
generally not consumed.
• There is no substitute to water
Water: the bloodstream of the biosphere
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• Water is generally not transported and is not a
commodity that can be traded on markets
• Water is typically a local issue that it is managed
according to geographical situation (resources,
topography, economic activities, etc) and man-made
infrastructure (borehole, dams, dike, distribution
network, treatment facility, …)
• Since early time, humanity has dealt with many
water issues (water supply, floods protection,
transportation, energy, public heath, …)
• Access to the resource it self was taken for granted
Water in human history
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• 1972 Stockholm declaration under the UN aegis
• 1973: 1st environmental action programme (water
and waste as priorities)
• 1975-80: 1st wave of EU water directives aimed at
setting up standards (bottom-up approach)
• 1986: European Single Act which introduced the first
environmental considerations into the treaties.
• 1987: Brundtland report « our common future »
• 1990-95: 2nd wave of EU water directives aimed at
fixing pollution problems (sectoral approach)
EU Legal Framework (1)
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• 2000: The Water Framework Directive revolution
(integrated management of water resources)
– Restoration to a good ecological water quality
– Adaptative planning cycle (4 steps)
– All bodies (groundwater, lake, river, coastal water)
– Transboundary cooperation
– Role of economic instruments
– Hazardous substances
– Strengthened reporting processes
– Public participation
EU Legal Framework (2)
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EU Legal Framework (3)
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SETTING-UP THE FRAMEWORK
Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC
SECTORAL DIRECTIVES
Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC
UWWT Directive 91/271/EEC
Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC
Barthing Water Directive
2006/7/EC
COMPLETING
Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EC
Priority Substances 2008/105/EC
Intercalibration Decision 2008/915/EC
Chemical Analysis Directive
2009/90/EC
EXPANDING
Floods Directive 2007/60/EC
Marine Strategy Framework
Directive 2008/56/EC
NON LEGAL INITIATIVES
Water Scarcity & Drought
Climate change adaptation

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Main hurdles experimented with the WFD:
• Full enforcement of sectoral directives
• Qualitative aspects over quantitative aspects
• River morphology
• Diffuse pollution and micropollutants
• Administrative burden
• Planning cycle ≠ investment cycle
EU Legal Framework (4)
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A review of EU water policy occurred in 2012:
• River Basin Management plans
• Water scarcity & droughts
• Climate Change adaptation
Conclusions:
• No need to revise the WFD fundamentals
• Valuable achievements but it is too slow
• Pressures are increasing
How can we make it deliver?
The 2012 Blueprint
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• Water as a common patrimony
• Implementation is the master word
• Water is a highly transversal issue and
connects many sectors (energy, agriculture,
navigation, etc)
• Integrated planning works across traditional
boundaries and lines of responsibilities (role
of water authorities, position of water
utilities)
Why partnership is needed
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• Allocation of water resources (gouvernance)
– Monitoring
– Risks assessment and management
– Regulation of water uses
• Investment in infrastructures (China, India)
– Planning
– Operating
– Costs recovery (tariffs, taxes, transfer)
• Learning loops to empower sectoral actors
and elaborate context specific solutions
Which innovation is needed?
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• Scientific knowledge
– Understanding the pressures
– Linking pressures and solutions
– Collecting data
• Technological innovation
– smart systems,
– membrane treatment,
– remote sensing
• Organizational innovation
– Ecosystem services (multifonctionality)
– Economic valuation of water resources.
Progress that can help
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• Do people understand what is at stake?
• Can we restore water ecosystems? At which cost?
• How to build a resilience capacity?
• Can market economy deal adequately with
environmental patrimonies? How to balance
individual and collective benefits?
• Are there other instruments than legislation to
regulate the use of water resources? Economy?
Open questions
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