On 4 June 2025, the Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy aiming at restoring and protecting the water cycle, securing clean and affordable water for all and creating a sustainable, resilient, smart and competitive water-economy in Europe.
SafeCREW welcomes the Water Resilience strategy which aims to support more efficient water management. The European Commission emphasises the implementation of current EU water legislation and has planned over 30 actions.
The Commission sets three main objectives to work towards water resilience:
Restoring and protecting the water cycle
- Restore and protect the water cycle from source to sea to ensure resilience against floods, droughts and water scarcity, by effectively implementing the already existing EU laws for freshwater.
- Adopt water-smart practices and green infrastructure to improve water retention on land, prevent water pollution and tackle pollutants in drinking water, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Building a water-smart economy
- Provide guidance on how to reduce water consumption and improve water efficiency in the EU by 10% by 2030.
- Reduce leaks in pipes and modernise water infrastructure through public and private funding and take up of digital solutions.
Ensuring access to clean and affordable water for all
- Raise public awareness by promoting education and the exchange of best practices in saving water, and support sound water pricing policies.
- Reinforce the EU’s role in promoting water resilience worldwide through international partnerships and cooperation.
SafeCREW’s objectives contribute especially to tackling pollutants in drinking water and the modernisation of water infrastructure, with a focus on reducing the negative impacts on health caused by unwanted interaction of disinfectants with DBP precursors and materials. Also, with the development of models and soft sensors, SafeCREW contributes to digitalisation and artificial intelligence to accelerate and simplify sound drinking water management, including early-warning and risk based management approaches.