09.07.2025
The European Commission’s long-awaited Water Resilience Strategy puts water efficiency front and centre in Europe’s response to mounting water stress and climate threats. Aimed at preventing shortages, protecting ecosystems and reducing dependency on vulnerable water systems, the new plan introduces binding recommendations and cross-sector collaboration to shift how Europe uses and manages its water.
Key water efficiency highlights from the strategy:
- The Commission calls on Member States to adopt the “Water Efficiency First” principle in planning, investment, and management decisions.
- A new European Water Academy will train professionals to identify and apply efficiency solutions in buildings, agriculture, and industry.
- Public procurement is to be used to drive the uptake of innovative water-saving technologies.
- The Water Smart Industrial Alliance and Water Resilience R&I Partnership will accelerate the development and deployment of scalable water efficiency innovations.
Let’s take a closer look at what this means for water efficiency in Europe.
Why a water strategy now?
Despite Europe’s developed infrastructure, water scarcity is no longer a future threat. It’s a current and growing challenge. Climate change, economic activity and population growth are all straining freshwater resources. The Commission positions water efficiency not as an environmental concern, but as a strategic economic imperative.
“As current national leakage levels vary from 8% to 57%, the potential for improvement is significant, especially through smart water metering and remote sensing. The Drinking Water Directive requires Member States to reduce leakages in water supply networks.”
- European Commission’s European Water Resilience Strategy (Communication, 4 June 2025, Brussels).
© "Aerial View of the Water Dam in Vacha Reservoir, Bulgaria" by Denitsa Kireva / Pexels
Innovation and skills: unlocking the efficiency shift
The strategy outlines several concrete actions to make water efficiency a cornerstone of Europe’s green transition:
Driving innovation through initiatives like the Water Smart Industrial Alliance and the Water Resilience R&I Partnership, which will support faster development and deployment of water-saving technologies, especially by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Upskilling the workforce via the creation of a European Water Academy and enhanced vocational training platforms.
Reforming procurement and policy to support the adoption of efficient solutions through public tenders, and simplifying market access for water-smart technologies.
Measuring progress, not just promises
Starting December 2025, the Commission will host a Water Resilience Forum every two years to track progress, exchange best practices and recalibrate where needed. A mid-term review in 2027 and a full evaluation by 2029 will assess the uptake of water efficiency recommendations, and help determine the next steps.
Innovation meets impact
At Shayp, we welcome the EU’s strategy as a crucial step toward systemic change in water management. Our smart technology enables buildings and cities to detect leaks and reduce waste in real time. The strategy’s focus on digital tools, efficiency and skills directly supports our mission to bring scalable, cost-effective solutions to the market.
“Water resilience is probably one of the most pressing challenges for the sustainability of our cities to maintain our quality of life while experiencing increasing climate change consequences. It’s good to see that our leaders take a step in this direction and let’s hope we’ll see measurable results in the next few years.”
- Gregoire de Hemptinne, CEO Shayp
Why this matters for businesses and citizens
Water efficiency isn’t just for utilities but for everyone. For businesses, it means lower costs, reduced risks and future-ready operations. For citizens, it means better service reliability, safer infrastructure and protection from climate extremes. As water becomes more scarce and valuable, smart management will define economic and environmental leadership.
In short, the EU’s Water Resilience Strategy doesn’t treat water efficiency as a technical fix, it frames it as a societal shift. With clear targets, new tools, and growing momentum, Europe is taking a vital step toward a water-smart future.
By Agnes Aasmaa, Marketing and Communication @ Shayp.