Water-efficient consumption

Background

The EESC has made water its top policy priority for 2023. To address the threats climate change poses to this vital resource, the Committee is calling for the EU to adopt a European Blue Deal. In the EESC's view, the European Green Deal is not enough to address the very specific issues affecting water. In a series of own-initiative opinions on key issues (water poverty: water infrastructure, the economics of water, water and the agrifood sector, water-intensive industries), the EESC addresses the complexity of the challenges involved. In this one, it looks at the role consumers can play in ensuring sustainable water consumption.

Key points

The EESC suggests urgently adopting the following measures to improve water-efficient consumption and consumer awareness of their water footprint and promote a Water-Smart Society:

• encouraging the use of water-efficient appliances and devices through incentives to both manufacturers and consumers and water consumption labels;
• applying water tariffs that reflect the real cost of water services and can help raise consumer awareness;
• promoting circular water consumption by encouraging households to collect and re-use rain water and applying wastewater control measures to ensure that wastewater can safely be used in farming and other activities.

Link to the full opinion

Additional information

EESC section responsible: Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)

Opinion type: mandatory Commission referral

Rapporteur: Milena Angelova (Employers - Bulgaria)

Date of adoption by section: 29/6/2023

Result of the vote: 33 votes in favour and none against, with no abstentions

Date of adoption by plenary: 12/7/2023

Result of the vote: 190 votes in favour and 2 against, with 6 abstentions

Contacts

Press officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 8422 | Mob: +32 475 99 94 32

email: daniela.marangoni@eesc.europa.eu

Policy officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 8378

email: silvia.staffa@eesc.europa.eu