Water stress varies across Europe; EEA data shows high usage in some countries, highlighting need for better management.
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The European Environment Agency’s Water Exploitation Index (WEI+) measures total water consumption as a percentage of renewable freshwater resources. High WEI+ values indicate water scarcity; above 20% suggests shortage, and 40% or more indicates unsustainable use. Countries like Cyprus show very high indices. While annual data is provided, experts stress the importance of analyzing water resources across time and space. In Poland, for instance, the WEI+ in the worst quarter was 8.7%, with specific regional stresses noted in the Warta basin and areas near the middle Vistula river. Solutions proposed include investing in new technologies, implementing economic instruments like proper water fees, and improving wastewater treatment. Despite reduced overall water consumption in the EU between 2000 and 2022, the area affected by shortages has not decreased and is expected to worsen due to climate change. Austria faces high risk of acute water deficits by 2050, with public support for protective measures being very high. Lithuania benefits from abundant groundwater resources but needs investment in conservation and education. Czechia shows decreasing domestic water use, supported by government subsidies for efficiency. Bulgaria has a low WEI+ but suffers from poor resource utilization, aging infrastructure leading to massive losses, and requires significant investment to address its water crisis amid declining resources.
