We welcome the EU Methane Strategy initiative, which intends to reduce the manmade methane emissions by putting in place an enabling environment to cut these emissions, which contribute to climate change.

The European Green Deal sets out how to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy, improving people's health and quality of life, caring for nature, and leaving no one behind. Water needs to be an integral part of this. 

The new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) published on 11 March 2020 offered a unique opportunity to unleash the water sector’s potential. While the European Commission presented a lot of good intentions and the will to “scale up the circular economy from front-runners to the mainstream economic players”, a number of question marks remain and the potential of the water sector is not sufficiently exploited. In this context, we wish to make the following comments.

EurEau favours a hazard-based approach for all chemicals (including EDCs) entering the water cycle, which takes into consideration the risk of adverse impacts to humans and the environment without taking exposure into account. We insist that the source control approach, the Precautionary and Polluter Pays Principles should be applied.

Horizon Europe is the research and innovation framework programme running from 2021-2027. 

The European Critical Infrastructure Protection Directive (2008/114/EC) of 8 December 2008 establishes a procedure for identifying and designating European Critical Infrastructures (ECI) in the energy and transport sectors, as well as a common approach for assessing the need to improve their protection. It is a key pillar of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP), which aims to protect critical infrastructures against a range of threats using an all-hazards approach.
Critical infrastructure is defined as an asset, system or part thereof located in a Member State which is essential for the maintenance of vital societal functions, health, safety, security, economic and/or social well-being of people. The disruption or destruction of said infrastructure would have a significant impact in a Member State as a result of the failure to maintain the aforementioned vital societal functions.

The wide range of products on the EU single market. The wide range of products on the EU single market are subject to many different EU policies that vary in scope, type and approach. These policies include different forms of legislation, guidance and financial and/or market incentives. They have various policy aims such as ensuring the safety of people that use or consume the products, maintaining fair competition on the EU internal market, climate change mitigation, protecting the environment, providing consumer protection and promoting more sustainable products.

Pharmaceuticals can enter the water cycle in many ways. We must take steps now to minimise their release into the environment. A full life cycle of pharmaceuticals should be considered when designing remedial measures. End of pipe solutions are not sustainable.

Microplastics can enter the water cycle in many ways and are not entirely biodegradable. They can accumulate and could pose a threat to our water resources and ecosystems. Control at source is essential for microplastics to prevent them from entering the environment. We need extended producer responsibility. Additional treatment steps exist which will lead to increased tariffs for consumers.

UWWTD is a central pillar of the waste water services in Europe and has successfully created a level playing field for environmental standards and economic investment by setting baseline requirements for urban waste water treatment. We agree that time is now to evaluate the costs and benefits of UWWTD implementation.

Pharmaceuticals can enter the water cycle in many ways. We must take steps now to minimise their release into the environment. A full life cycle of pharmaceuticals should be considered when designing remedial measures. End of pipe solutions are not sustainable.

Water is a precious and scarce resource, so reusing treated waste water in certain circumstances makes perfect environmental sense. We want minimum quality standards to ensure consumer and environmental health.

Pharmaceuticals can enter the water cycle in many ways. We must take steps now to minimise their release into the environment. A full life cycle of pharmaceuticals should be considered when designing remedial measures. End of pipe solutions are not sustainable.

Opening up the potential for treated sludge to be used in fertilisers will benefit the environment.

Recycling makes sense for us all, and should be encouraged so that we can all have access to water today and tomorrow.

EurEau members provide consumers with water that meet some of the world’s strictest standards, every day