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Water scarcity and droughts - European Commission
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xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></li><li class="ecl-breadcrumb__segment" data-ecl-breadcrumb-item="static"><a href="/topics/water_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--no-visited ecl-breadcrumb__link" >Water</a><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--fluid ecl-breadcrumb__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" role="presentation"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></li><li class="ecl-breadcrumb__segment ecl-breadcrumb__current-page" data-ecl-breadcrumb-item="static" aria-current="page">Water scarcity and droughts</li></ol></nav><div class="ecl-page-header__info"><h1 class="ecl-page-header__title"><span>Water scarcity and droughts</span></h1></div><div class="ecl-page-header__description-container"><p class="ecl-page-header__description">Preventing and mitigating water scarcity and droughts in the EU </p></div></div></div> </div> <main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-container"> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12 ewcms-top-sidebar"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-main-page-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading" class="ecl-u-mb-l"> <article dir="ltr"> <div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4396"></a> <div class="ecl-row inpage-navigation-container"> <div class="ecl-col-l-3"> <nav class="ecl-inpage-navigation oe-theme-ecl-inpage-navigation ecl-u-z-dropdown" data-ecl-auto-init="InpageNavigation" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true" data-ecl-inpage-navigation="true" aria-labelledby="ecl-inpage-navigation-1886648521" ><div class="ecl-inpage-navigation__title" id="ecl-inpage-navigation-1886648521">Page contents</div><div class="ecl-inpage-navigation__body"><div class="ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger-wrapper"><button type="button" class="ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger" id="ecl-inpage-navigation-1886648521-trigger" data-ecl-inpage-navigation-trigger="true" aria-controls="ecl-inpage-navigation-list" aria-expanded="false"><span class="ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger-current" data-ecl-inpage-navigation-trigger-current="true">Page contents</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger-icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="false" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></button></div><ul class="ecl-inpage-navigation__list" data-ecl-inpage-navigation-list="true" id="ecl-inpage-navigation-1886648521-list"></ul></div></nav> </div> <div class="ecl-col-l-9" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4385"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Overview</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>Most of Europe has adequate water resources, but water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and widespread in the EU. In some regions, the severity and frequency of droughts can lead to water scarcity situations. Overexploitation of available water resources can exacerbate the consequences of droughts. Further deterioration of the water resources in Europe is expected, if temperatures continue to rise as a result of climate change.</p> <p>Water scarcity is a seasonal, annual or multi-annual water stress condition. It occurs when water demand frequently exceeds the sustainable supply capacity of the natural system in river basins. It can be measured as the ratio between renewable freshwater resources and water abstraction or water use. Beyond water quantity, a situation of water scarcity can also emerge from acute water quality issues, when pollution (diffuse or point source pollutions) lead to reduced clean water availability.</p> <p>Droughts are a temporary decrease of the average water availability due for example to insufficient rainfall, and are considered natural phenomena. Droughts can occur anywhere in Europe, in both high and low rainfall areas, and in any season. The impact of droughts can be exacerbated when they occur in a region with low water resources or where water resources are not being properly managed. This results in imbalances between water demands and the supply capacity of the natural system.</p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4386"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Objectives</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The overall objective of EU water policy is to ensure access to good quality water in sufficient quantity for all Europeans, economic sectors and the environment, and to ensure the good status of all water bodies across Europe. Therefore, policies and actions are set up to prevent and to mitigate water scarcity and drought situations. The priority is to move towards a water-efficient and water-saving economy.</p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4391"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2"> In the EU </h2> <div class="ecl-fact-figures ecl-fact-figures--col-3" ><div class="ecl-fact-figures__items"><div class="ecl-fact-figures__item"><div class="ecl-fact-figures__value">38 % </div><div class="ecl-fact-figures__title">of the EU population was affected by water scarcity in 2019</div></div><div class="ecl-fact-figures__item"><div class="ecl-fact-figures__value">29 % </div><div class="ecl-fact-figures__title">of EU territory was affected by water scarcity in 2019</div></div><div class="ecl-fact-figures__item"><div class="ecl-fact-figures__value">€2 to 9 billion </div><div class="ecl-fact-figures__title">cost of droughts each year</div></div></div></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4392"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Laws and actions</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The <a href="/topics/water/water-framework-directive_en" class="ecl-link">Water Framework Directive</a>, adopted in 2000, provides a suitable framework to address water scarcity and drought. The directive promotes sustainable water use via the long-term protection of available water resources and the mitigation of the effects of droughts, contributing to guaranteeing a sufficient supply of good quality surface water and groundwater<a> and protecting territorial and marine waters.</a> EU countries implement integrated river basin management through River Basin Management Plans required by the Directive, and some have adopted Drought Management Plans for vulnerable river basins. Given that in the longer term, almost all river basins could be exposed to water scarcity and droughts, organizational and technical adaptation solutions are required.</p><p>Water quantity management is also addressed through other EU regulations</p><ul><li>the <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0741&from=EN">Regulation on minimum requirements for water reuse for agricultural irrigation</a><u>,</u> that establishes new rules to stimulate and facilitate <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/reuse.htm">water reuse in the EU</a></li><li>the <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2020/2184/oj">Recast of the EU Drinking Water Directive</a><u>,</u> that addresses leakage in the water supply networks.</li></ul><p>Further supporting water quantity management are the Commission proposals to revise the<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-revised-urban-wastewater-treatment-directive_en"> Urban wastewater treatment directive (UWWTD)</a> and the <a href="/publications/industrial-emissions-directive-proposal-revision_en" class="ecl-link">Industrial Emissions Directive</a>.</p><p>EU Member States Water Directors introduced several climate adaptation activities in the 2022-2024 <a href="https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/9ab5926d-bed4-4322-9aa7-9964bbe8312d/library/561e8b77-e75d-42d6-86a9-16405547735f/details" class="ecl-link">Work Programme for the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS)</a> for the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive. An Ad-hoc Task Group on Water Scarcity and Droughts was established, leading to technical discussions on how to improve water management in the changing climate, particularly addressing increasing droughts and water scarcity. CIS guidance and thematic documents support water quantity management</p><ul><li>the 2015 <a href="https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/820ec306-62a7-475c-8a98-699e70734223/Guidance%20No%2034%20-%20Water%20Balances%20Guidance%20%28final%20version%29.pdf">Guidance on Water Balances</a> and the <a href="https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4063d635-957b-4b6f-bfd4-b51b0acb2570/Guidance%20No%2031%20-%20Ecological%20flows%20%28final%20version%29.pdf">Guidance on Ecological Flows</a></li><li>the 2024 Guidance on <a href="/publications/river-basin-management-changing-climate_en" class="ecl-link">River Basin Management in a changing climate</a>.</li></ul><p>Water scarcity and droughts are recognised as a priority in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en">European Green Deal</a> and are reflected as such in several major European strategies</p><ul><li>the 2021<strong> </strong><a href="https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/eu-adaptation-strategy_en">EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change</a></li><li>the <a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en" class="ecl-link">2020 Circular Economy Action Plan</a> and the <a href="/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" class="ecl-link">Biodiversity Strategy for 2030</a></li></ul><p>The first EU policy on water scarcity and droughts was defined by the 2007 Communication <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52007DC0414">Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union</a><u>, </u>reviewed in 2012 as part of the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/index_en.htm">Blueprint for Safeguarding European Waters</a><u>.</u></p><p>The EU also provides financial support to the Member States and other authorities to address water scarcity and droughts; more than 300 projects have been funded by the European Research and Innovation funding under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.</p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_6995"></a> <div class="ecl-content-item-block"><div class="ecl-row"><div class="ecl-content-item-block__title ecl-col-12"><h2 class='ecl-u-type-heading-2'>Tools</h2></div></div><div class="ecl-row"><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 "><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >EU Civil Protection Mechanism</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>EU response to droughts with short-term emergency measures.</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 "><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="https://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/php/index.php?id=1000" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >European Drought Observatory</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>The latest information and maps on droughts across the EU.</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 "><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="https://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/gdo/php/index.php?id=2001" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Global Drought Observatory</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>The latest information and maps on droughts worldwide.</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 last-item-column"><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/european-and-global-drought-observatories/current-drought-situation-europe_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Current drought situation in Europe</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>The latest status of drought in Europe.</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 last-item-column"><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC135215" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" > European Droughts Risk Atlas</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Simulating the impact of temperature increases using machine learning.</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 last-item-column last-item"><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="http://edid-test.eu/#/home" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon" ><span class="ecl-link__label">European Droughts Impacts Database</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--2xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="false" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external"></use></svg></a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Data on the impact of droughts between 1977 and 2022.</p></div></div></div></article></div></div></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4393"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Studies</h2> <div class="ecl"><ul> <li><a href="https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC133025" class="ecl-link">Droughts in Europe - March 2023 </a>(JRC)</li> <li><a href="https://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/news/GDO-EDODroughtNews202207_Europe.pdf">Droughts in Europe – 2022 report</a> (JRC)</li> <li><a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/water-resources-across-europe-confronting">Water resources across Europe — confronting water stress: an updated assessment</a> - 2021 report (EEA)</li> <li><a href="https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/peseta-projects/jrc-peseta-iv_en">PESETA IV study</a>, aiming to better understand the effects of climate change on Europe – 2020 (JRC)</li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4394"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Related links</h2> <div class="ecl"><p><strong>Related laws: </strong><a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-framework-directive_en" class="ecl-link">Water Framework Directive</a>, <a href="https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/european-green-deal/european-climate-law_en">Climate Law</a></p> <p><strong>Related topics: </strong><a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-reuse_en" class="ecl-link">Water reuse</a>, <u><a href="https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change_en">Adaptation to Climate Change</a></u>, <a href="https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap-overview/new-cap-2023-27_en">Common Agricultural Policy</a></p> <p><strong>Related strategies: </strong><a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en">Circular economy action plan</a>, <a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/zero-pollution-action-plan_en">Zero pollution action plan</a> <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_663">EU strategy on adaptation to climate change</a></p> <p><strong>Related Commission priorities: </strong><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en">European Green Deal</a></p> <p><strong>Institutions:</strong><a href="https://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/">European Drought Observatory</a>, <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/">European Environment Agency</a><u> </u>including <a href="https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/">Climate-ADAPT</a>, <a href="http://www.icpdr.org/main/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a></p> <p><strong>International commitments: </strong><a href="https://www.unccd.int/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">UN Convention to Combat Desertification</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a>,<a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/what-is-the-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">UN Framework Convention on Climate Change</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a>(COP meetings)</p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4395"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Contact</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact <a href="https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu_en">Europe Direct</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2"> <div id="block-waternews"> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_4024"></a> <div id="block-relatedstories" 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src="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2024-10/WaterMaters_EP10_CulturalHeritageOfWater_Still-12-CreditValyo.png?h=d1cb525d&itok=NyXM_gpU" alt="" ></picture><div class="ecl-card__body"><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-card__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><ul class="ecl-content-block__primary-meta-container"><li class="ecl-content-block__primary-meta-item">News article</li><li class="ecl-content-block__primary-meta-item"><time datetime="2024-10-23T12:00:00Z">23 October 2024</time></li></ul><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/news/video-how-reconnect-european-rivers-through-art-2024-10-23_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >VIDEO: Reconnecting with European rivers through art</a></div><ul class="ecl-content-block__secondary-meta-container"><li class="ecl-content-block__secondary-meta-item"><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--s 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