The heat wave and lack of rainfall are placing several European countries in a critical situation regarding access to water.
According to the report Overheated and Underprepared by the organization Europe in Motion, cited by the Euronews portal, one in ten citizens of the European Union faces water scarcity. Although the average European consumption is 5.8% of water resources, the differences between member states are profound.
Mediterranean countries on alert due to the heat wave
- Cyprus: the most severe case, with a use of 92% of its freshwater resources in summer, far above the alert threshold of 20%. The government is calling for a 10% reduction in consumption and is promoting desalination plants to ensure supply.
- Malta: annual consumption of 33%, which rises to 67% in summer.
- Greece: 37% water exploitation.
- Romania: 34%.
- Portugal: 31%.
- Italy: 27%.
- Spain: 26.5%.
These values place Mediterranean countries in high-risk zones, where the combination of high temperatures and population growth increases pressure on supply systems.
Unequal access
The European Environment Agency (EEA) warns that the problem is not only dependent on the amount of water available but also on the capacity of distribution systems. Approximately 10% of Europeans have difficulties accessing clean and safe water.
- In Cyprus, 36.5% of the population faces access problems.
- In Greece, the figure reaches 31.5%.
- In countries like Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, and Ireland, scarcity is related to obsolete infrastructure and deficient supply systems, rather than water availability.
Differences in management
On the other hand, countries like France, Portugal, and Spain have managed to keep the percentage of affected population low thanks to more efficient distribution systems, with figures below the European average of 9%.
This demonstrates that water scarcity is not always linked to the amount of resources but to the management and maintenance of hydraulic networks.
Climate change and the future
The EEA warns that the impact of drought and climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of these crises at least until 2030. The growing demand, seasonal tourism, and increasingly hot summers complicate governments’ ability to guarantee supply.
The report emphasizes that water management has become a priority issue for the European Union, and that the experience of Mediterranean countries could foreshadow similar challenges in other regions if sustainable solutions are not applied.
The disparity among member states highlights the need for differentiated and coordinated strategies, where equitable access and investment in technology are central to avoiding a widespread water crisis on the continent.
The modernization of infrastructure and the resilience of distribution systems will be key to facing a future marked by climate change and pressure on water resources.
