Demand for fresh water will exceed supplies by 56% by 2030, predicts the World Resources Institute.
Droughts and weak water policies are leading to acute water shortages in Europe that will only worsen in the future. The Financial Times reported this on August 27.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the number and intensity of droughts in the EU increased significantly from 1976 to 2006, and the area affected by them increased by almost 20%.
In 2020, the World Resources Institute (WRI) expects that demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 56% by 2030.
However, drought is not the only factor leading to water scarcity. Accustomed to cold winters and ample rainfall, European politicians did not think about water supply.
“Most of the (water) regimes in Europe are a legacy of times of prosperity. Now they need to change,” said Xavier Leflev, a spokesman for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Moreover, the problem is not limited to the dry lands of Europe.
The combination of local water regulation, leaky pipes and extreme weather turns even the wettest parts of Europe like Poland or Germany into ‘water stress’ zones.
According to the environmental organization EurEau, on average, EU countries lose around 25% of their drinking water due to bad pipelines. In Rome, for example, this figure reaches 42%, because the water supply system in some quarters of the city has been preserved since the time of the Roman Empire.
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At the same time, the optimal level of losses, according to Leflev, is about 10%.
As noted in the OECD, all EU countries, except Germany, “must increase the annual cost of water supply by more than a quarter” to avoid a significant loss of water resources.
At the same time, water tariffs, which remain lower than the cost of electricity, will inevitably increase, and the adoption of new measures will be hindered by procedures for their harmonization at the local, national and pan-European level, the FT points. out.
In the past, scientists have warned about a catastrophic drought in Europe and the depletion of groundwater.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.