This year saw adoption of the Water Resilience Strategy by the European Commission. Why are efforts to further regulate water necessary now?
Patricia Fosselard: The availability of water is as essential for all living things as it is for the economy. Water has been regulated by a body of EU legislation for a long time. However, climate change and human activity are increasingly putting pressure on water resources. Year after year, Europe is confronted with instances of water contamination by emerging contaminants, severe droughts, or, on contrary, devastating floods. At the same time, reports show that the existing body of EU water-related legislation is not always fully implemented nor complied with at local level.
Also, methods applied to address issues vary across Europe and would require science-based harmonisation. Therefore, it is not a matter of regulating water now but rather assessing the shortcomings in the current legislation and closing the gaps availability of water for future generations.
Esther Herranz García: Pressure on water resources in Europe has reached critical levels. Member States that until recently did not suffer from scarcity are now facing severe droughts and devastating floods. This situation shows that national or regional policies are no longer enough: water-related issues have a clear cross-border impact and require a coordinated European response. Until now, EU efforts had focused on water quality and pollution, but current realities make it necessary to also act on the amount of water available. There is no point in guaranteeing quality standards if there is not enough water for ecosystems, agriculture, or industry.
What will be necessary for the strategy to have a tangible positive impact on water in Europe?
PF: Essentially two things. First, a recognition that water is fundamentally a local issue because every watershed has its own specificities and challenges. We welcome the fact that the Water Resilience Strategy does not aspire to set everything centrally and we hope this approach will be kept in the Member States.
Second, the adoption of an inclusive approach. Water is a shared resource. Therefore, water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation; it will take a large amount of stakeholders – public sector, business, civil society, academia – to be involved to effectively address local water challenges.
It is not a matter of regulating water now, but rather assessing the shortcomings in the current legislation and closing the gaps availability of water for future generations
EHG: For this strategy to be effective, it must be backed by sufficient means and financial resources. It will be essential to invest in the renovation of inefficient infrastructure and in the construction of new systems that enable better use of water resources. This includes everything from piping and treatment systems to desalination technologies and innovative solutions for recycling and the management of transnational river basins. Research, knowledge-sharing, and best practices among Member States must also be promoted. Ultimately, success will depend on making water resilience a real priority on the European agenda and decisively investing in water infrastructure—particularly water storage—innovation, and efficiency.
Why is water resilience important for the sector of natural mineral waters?
PF: Natural mineral waters are defined by their mineral content, of course, but also by their purity at source (devoid of contamination). Natural mineral and spring waters must come from protecting underground origin only and may not undergo any corrective chemical treatment. It is therefore essential for the future of the sector to secure the availability of water which is pure at source and available in sufficient quantities within the natural replenishment of the source. Many European natural mineral and thermal springs have been enjoyed for centuries.
EHG: The natural mineral water sector depends directly on the health of aquifers and springs, so its sustainability is closely tied to water resilience. This sector is subject to specific regulations that prevent overexploitation and ensure water quality. It has also proven its importance during times of crisis by ensuring the supply of drinking water when other sources are not accessible or when treatment becomes too costly. In many rural areas of Europe, the exploitation of springs also creates jobs and contributes to local development.
This situation shows that national or regional policies are no longer enough: water-related issues have a clear cross-border impact and require a coordinated European response
When it comes to natural mineral waters, what impact can the sector have on water resilience?
PF: Companies in our sector have long been taking sustainable water management measures which have a positive impact on water resilience. In this context, “water stewardship” approach has been at the heart of their action – responsible collective management of water within a catchment with local stakeholders to ensure shared long-term benefits.
First of all, our companies thoroughly assess the groundwater resources prior to the extraction and further monitor them during the production. They deploy protection mechanisms to maintain the resources in a perfect state. Then, individual factories strive to increase the water efficiency, pushing the water usage ratio to its technical limits. Last but certainly not least, our companies get involved in water and nature stewardship projects to ensure water retention and recharge such as wetland restoration, water-friendly forest management and others.
EHG: The sector can serve as an example of responsible and sustainable water management. Its experience in protecting springs and controlling resource use offers valuable lessons for other fields. However, it is also affected by overall water stress, as aquifers and their reserve levels are declining across much of the Union. Therefore, rationality and a balanced use of resources must prevail. The Water Resilience Strategy should precisely help ensure that water supply is sustainable and that in the future it will not be necessary to depend on springs to meet basic human consumption needs.
Natural Mineral Waters Europe represents almost 550 natural mineral and spring water producers in Europe, most of them small- and medium sized companies. NMWE is dedicated to promoting the unique qualities of natural mineral and spring waters as well as sustainable use of water resources and circular economy:
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