Environment: The European technology industries’ priorities for the sustainable use and management of water in Europe

Water was classified as one of the main catalysts for changes in Europe by 2025, according to a recent EU report. Acting upon the priorities, which Orgalim supports and strongly recommends to the EU’s next legislative term, would surely propel these changes in a positive direction, shaping a future that is good for citizens, the environment and economy. 

Numerous environmental challenges will continue to determine the flow and availability of freshwater resources worldwide, bringing consequential effects for its users and sectors. Due to population growth, the demand for this vital resource will be doubled worldwide by 2050 while its supply is expected to decline by 40%. At the same time, 80% of waste water is today discarded without sufficient cleaning and proper treatment. Climate change can only exacerbate this trend, as it contributes to the perennial water stress already felt across a third of the EU territory. 

The sustainable use and management of water not only helps to address these increasing water shortage and quality constraints, but also offers economic opportunities for global EU technology leadership.A wide variety of different technology solutions made in Europe exist to counteract these alarming trends. Orgalim, representing Europe’s technology industries, sees big potential in providing water technology solutions which enable sustainable growth and health at home and worldwide, while tackling growing pressures on water resources. This approach is embedded in Orgalim’s 2030 industry vision for a renewed Europe, centred on three strategic imperatives: 

• transforming societal challenges into future drivers of prosperity, 
• embracing the innovation-led transformation of European industry and 
• enabling European industry’s long-term global leadership. 

European technology manufacturers offer cutting-edge machinery and electro-technical equipment for supplying clean water and treating waste water in a smart and sustainable manner (see Annex). A wide range of European technologies which apply to drinking water, water for agricultural and industrial use and municipal and industrial waste water, pave the way for a necessary shift to a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient water- smart society and to smart and greener cities. 

Europe’s innovative technology industries are ready to lead this transition with other stakeholders being on board and the right policy and institutional solutions in place.

To read our priorities in full, please download the position above.