Building Europe’s water resilience – The Parliament Magazine

Report on the European Water Resilience Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Rationale for the European Water Resilience Strategy

The European Commission’s adoption of the Water Resilience Strategy addresses escalating pressures on European water resources. This initiative is a direct response to critical challenges that threaten the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• Climate and Human Impact: Climate change and human activity have intensified water-related issues, including severe droughts, devastating floods, and contamination from emerging pollutants. These events undermine progress towards ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water for all.
• Legislative Gaps: Existing EU water legislation is not consistently implemented or complied with at the local level. Furthermore, varied national approaches lack the science-based harmonisation needed for effective, cross-border water management, a necessity for a shared resource.
• Shift in Focus: Historically, EU policy has concentrated on water quality. The current reality necessitates a dual focus on both quality and quantity to secure sufficient water for ecosystems, agriculture, and industry, aligning with the targets of SDG 6.
• Cross-Border Imperative: As water scarcity and extreme weather events transcend national borders, a coordinated European response is essential. National and regional policies are no longer sufficient to address the continental scale of the challenge.

2.0 Critical Success Factors for Strategy Implementation

For the Water Resilience Strategy to yield a tangible positive impact, its implementation must be guided by several key principles that support a multi-faceted approach to sustainability, directly contributing to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Inclusive, Multi-Stakeholder Approach: Recognizing water as a shared resource, successful implementation requires the active involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, including the public sector, business, civil society, and academia. This collaborative model is fundamental to addressing complex local water challenges and embodies the spirit of SDG 17.
2. Localised Implementation: The strategy must acknowledge that water is a fundamentally local issue, with each watershed presenting unique specificities. A decentralised approach that empowers local action within a harmonised European framework is critical.
3. Financial Investment and Infrastructure: Substantial financial resources are required to modernise inefficient infrastructure and develop new systems. Investment priorities should include:
   • Renovation of piping and treatment systems.
   • Development of desalination and water recycling technologies.
   • Construction of water storage infrastructure.
   • Support for innovative management of transnational river basins.
4. Promotion of Research and Innovation: Fostering research, knowledge-sharing, and the dissemination of best practices among Member States is essential for advancing water efficiency and resilience across the Union.

3.0 Water Resilience and the Natural Mineral Water Sector

The natural mineral water sector is intrinsically linked to water resilience, as its viability depends directly on the health and sustainability of natural water sources. The sector’s operations and regulatory framework are closely aligned with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 6.

• Dependence on Source Purity: Natural mineral and spring waters are defined by their original purity and mineral content, sourced from protected underground origins without chemical treatment. Securing the long-term availability and quality of these sources is paramount, directly supporting targets under SDG 6 related to water quality.
• Sustainable Resource Management: The sector is subject to specific regulations that prevent overexploitation, ensuring that water extraction remains within the natural replenishment capacity of the source. This practice exemplifies the principles of sustainable resource management central to SDG 12.
• Contribution to Community Resilience: The sector plays a vital role in ensuring the supply of safe drinking water during crises and contributes to local economic development and job creation in many rural areas, supporting the objectives of SDG 11.

4.0 The Sector’s Contribution to Achieving the SDGs

Producers of natural mineral water actively contribute to water resilience and broader environmental goals through established sustainable management practices. These actions serve as a model for responsible resource management and deliver direct benefits to multiple SDGs.

• Water Stewardship: Companies engage in “water stewardship,” a collaborative approach to managing water resources within a catchment area alongside local stakeholders. This partnership model ensures shared long-term benefits and is a practical application of SDG 17.
• Resource Protection and Monitoring: The sector employs rigorous assessment and monitoring of groundwater resources to maintain their pristine condition. This commitment to source protection is a direct contribution to SDG 6 and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Water Use Efficiency: Factories continually strive to improve water efficiency, minimising their operational water footprint and advancing the goals of SDG 12.
• Ecosystem Restoration: Companies participate in nature stewardship projects that enhance water retention and aquifer recharge, such as wetland restoration and water-friendly forest management. These activities support biodiversity and ecosystem health, aligning with SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the central theme of the article. It directly addresses the availability of water, water quality, contamination, sustainable water management, and the need for efficient water use. The entire discussion revolves around ensuring water resources for the present and future.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article explicitly calls for investment in renovating inefficient infrastructure and building new systems, such as piping, treatment systems, desalination technologies, and water storage, to improve water management and resilience.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article highlights the efforts of the natural mineral water sector in sustainable water management, increasing water efficiency in factories, and promoting a “water stewardship” approach, which are all key components of responsible production patterns.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article identifies climate change as a primary driver of water-related challenges, mentioning that “climate change and human activity are increasingly putting pressure on water resources,” leading to severe droughts and devastating floods. The Water Resilience Strategy is a direct response to these climate-related hazards.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The protection of water-related ecosystems is a key point. The article discusses the importance of protecting underground water sources, aquifers, and springs. It also mentions stewardship projects like “wetland restoration” and “water-friendly forest management” to ensure water retention and recharge.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article stresses the need for a coordinated, cross-border European response to water issues. It advocates for an “inclusive approach” involving a “large amount of stakeholders – public sector, business, civil society, academia” and a “responsible collective management of water within a catchment with local stakeholders.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. The article mentions the problem of “water contamination by emerging contaminants” and the need for water that is “pure at source (devoid of contamination).”
• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors. The article states that individual factories in the mineral water sector “strive to increase the water efficiency, pushing the water usage ratio to its technical limits.”
• Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The article argues that “water-related issues have a clear cross-border impact and require a coordinated European response” and mentions the management of “transnational river basins.” It also describes the “water stewardship” approach as “responsible collective management of water within a catchment with local stakeholders.”
• Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. The article highlights the importance of protecting “underground origin” water sources, aquifers, and springs. It also refers to “wetland restoration” and “water-friendly forest management” as key stewardship projects.
• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The text explicitly states that it is “essential to invest in the renovation of inefficient infrastructure and in the construction of new systems,” including “piping and treatment systems to desalination technologies” and “water storage.”
• Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The article describes how the mineral water sector engages in “sustainable water management measures,” including assessing groundwater resources, deploying protection mechanisms, and increasing water efficiency.
• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire article is framed around the “Water Resilience Strategy” which aims to address “severe droughts” and “devastating floods” exacerbated by climate change.
• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. This is supported by the article’s emphasis on protecting aquifers and springs and engaging in projects like “wetland restoration” to ensure water retention and recharge.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article calls for an “inclusive approach” and “responsible collective management of water within a catchment with local stakeholders,” which directly aligns with promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Level of water contamination by emerging contaminants: This is an implied indicator for Target 6.3. The article mentions “water contamination by emerging contaminants” as a key problem, suggesting that measuring and reducing these levels would be a sign of progress.
• Water usage ratio: This is an explicit indicator for Target 6.4. The article states that factories are “pushing the water usage ratio to its technical limits,” indicating this is a metric used to track water efficiency.
• Aquifer and reserve levels: This is an implied indicator for Targets 6.6 and 15.1. The article notes that “aquifers and their reserve levels are declining across much of the Union,” implying that monitoring these levels is crucial for assessing the health of water-related ecosystems.
• Frequency and severity of droughts and floods: This is an implied indicator for Target 13.1. The article mentions Europe being “confronted with instances of… severe droughts, or, on contrary, devastating floods” year after year. Tracking the occurrence of these events would measure resilience.
• Amount of investment in water infrastructure: This is an implied indicator for Target 9.1. The call to “decisively invest in water infrastructure” suggests that the financial resources allocated to renovating and building new systems is a key measure of progress.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: theparliamentmagazine.eu