european water resources

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European water resources — overview
Both water and population are unevenly distributed in Europe, and
therefore countries and sub-regions experience differing degrees of
water stress (see hydrologic cycle and water availability).
Water availability problems occur when the demand for water exceeds the
amount available during a certain period. They occur frequently in areas
with low rainfall and high population density, and in areas with intensive
agricultural or industrial activity. Apart from water supply problems,
overexploitation of water has led to the drying out of natural areas in
western and southern Europe and salt-water intrusion in aquifers.
The overall abstraction and consumption of water resources is currently
sustainable in the long-term. However, some areas may face unsustainable
trends, especially in southern Europe where much improved efficiency of
water use, especially in agriculture, is needed to prevent seasonal water
shortages. In addition, climate change may affect water resources and water
demand.
The three main users of water are agriculture, industry and the domestic
sector, e.g. households.
The main policy objectives are:
•
to ensure that the rates of abstraction from our water resources are
sustainable over the long term, and to promote sustainable water use
based on the long-term protection of available water resources;

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•
to ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater
with the aim of achieving good groundwater status by 2015.
The Water Framework Directive obliges Member States to use pricing for
water-related services as an effective tool for promoting water
conservation. This would also allow the environmental costs of water to be
reflected in the price of water. National, regional and local authorities need,
amongst other things, to introduce measures to improve the efficiency of
water use and to encourage changes in the agricultural practices necessary
to protect water resources and quality, such as switching to less waterdemanding crops. Leakage remains a major source of inefficiency of water
use and in several countries objectives have been set to achieve major
reductions in leakage.
Member States shall ensure that by 2010:
•
water-pricing policies provide adequate incentives for users to use
water resources efficiently, and thereby contribute to the
environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive;
•
different water uses, disaggregated into at least industry, households
and agriculture, shall contribute to the recovery of the costs of water
services.
Policies and measures to promote
sustainable water use
Most countries have water resource management plans that address
both supply and demand.

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In EU, the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) is based on the idea
that modern water management needs to take account of ecological,
economic (including pricing) and social functions throughout the entire
river basin.
Water pricing is one of the measures used to reduce water demand. The
Water Framework Directive requires EU Member States to ensure that by
2010 the proportion of the cost of water services – such as pumping, weirs,
dams, channels, supply systems – with a negative impact on the
environment – must be paid by the users (e.g. agriculture, hydropower,
households, navigation). Member States are required to split the costs
according to the ‘polluter-pays’ principle in order to reduce the impact on
the environment and promote economic instruments to tackle the decline of
natural resources. If Member States fail to include other infrastructures than
drinking water supply and wastewater treatment in their economic
analyses, there is a major risk that such infrastructures already identified as
creating major environmental problems will be exempt. Consequently, the
economic burden of water bodies reaching ‘good status’ by 2015 will remain
with citizens, who already pay high prices for water services.
There has been a general trend towards higher water prices in real terms
throughout Europe over the past 20 years, and wide variations in water
charges exist both within individual countries and between different
countries in Europe. This is due to the wide range of factors that determine
local water prices and the level of recovery costs.
In several countries, increased water prices decreased household water use
significantly (see figure below). In many eastern European countries, water
prices were heavily subsidised until 1990. After 1990, there was a marked
increase in prices in these countries during their transition to market-

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economies, resulting in lower water use. In Estonia, for example, water
prices increased markedly after subsidies were removed, which in
conjunction with water measuring and application of more advanced
sanitation devices, led to a more than 50 % reduction in water use in the last
15 years
Measuring water use is a prerequisite for water prices reducing
consumption. Households with water meters installed generally use less
water than households without meters. In Europe, household and industrial
water metering continues to increase. Many of the NWE countries already
meter the majority of water uses. However, in many countries and in
relation to agriculture water use metering is still limited.
When addressing water charges, focus should also be placed on households
and agriculture that have difficulties with paying for water for essential
purposes (since it is generally recognised that no one should have to
compromise personal hygiene and health). The Water Framework Directive
requires an affordable price to guarantee a basic level of domestic water
supply.
Over the past 10 years there has been a marked increase in the amount of
information provided to consumers (e.g. water-efficiency labels for
households’ appliances, information on efficient lawn watering and
gardening practices, etc.) and agriculture. Many countries, NGOs, large
municipalities, water companies and international organisations have
dedicated home pages to water conservation and water use behaviour.