Quick Solutions Needed to Address Scarcity and Droughts

Water is steadily increasing on the European political agenda, forcing the European Commission to react with the EU Communication on Water Scarcity and Drought last summer. The European Parliament is currently preparing an initiative report as a response to this communication which should be ready this summer. This process will finally lead to a EU Strategy on Water Scarcity and Drought.

One of the important measures mentioned in the Communication is "water pricing". At the conference Commission official Andrea Tilche confirmed "The EU is looking at addressing the issue through water pricing policies," pointing also to a Commission project called AQUAMONEY, which brings together sixteen research institutions to determine correct water pricing policies. But Tilche added that the maintenance and operation of water resources in Europe will continue to be paid for by consumers.

Water shortages are becoming more common in Europe, with the Catalan region in Spain the latest area to be affected by decreasing reservoir levels. Catalonia and specifically the city of Barcelona even plan to import water from as far afield as Southern France (Marseille).

MEP and chairwoman of the conference Cristina Gutierrez-Cortines observed that recycling of water should be used more widely. Spain currently leads Europe in this area, with 12% of water being recycled. Countries like Israel recycle 75% of their water.

"Water should be used and re-used," agreed Tilche, adding that harvesting rainfall, de-salination and the use of drainage water should be seriously considered as alternatives for reducing water stress.

The conference focused particularly on water scarcity in the Middle East, due to the acute shortage of water in the region and in his concluding remarks, Bernard Zamaron suggested a form of the European Coal and Steel Community could be formed in the Middle East - replacing 'coal and steel' with 'water' and 'European' with 'Middle Eastern'.

Awareness to the community on the concepts of AQUAMONEY and "water use and reuse" is required V.S.PRAKASH - 08/04/2009 - 18:01