Europe’s water security is moving up the policy agenda. In June, Brussels unveiled its Water Resilience Strategy, a blueprint of more than 45 measures to safeguard the continent’s water cycle, foster a “water-smart” economy and guarantee affordable access to clean water.
A new report from Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos – ‘Tapping into Solutions: Opportunities and Challenges for Industry in Europe’s Resilient Water Future’ – argues that industry will be pivotal in turning ambition into action. It identifies five levers, from harmonised standards and financial incentives to local capacity building and societal engagement, designed to accelerate implementation.
Euractiv spoke with Thomas Finke, Grundfos vice-president for water treatment, to examine the findings and assess how businesses can help deliver Europe’s water resilience goals.
EV: Why is it important for industry to respond quickly to the EU Water Resilience Strategy?
TF: The Water Resilience Strategy is a strong framework, but it needs to be translated into concrete action. Our report aims to do exactly that by breaking the strategy down into practical areas where businesses and policymakers can work together.
The clear message from industry is that this cannot be solved by governments acting alone, nor by individual companies working in isolation. We need joint solutions that connect regulation, finance, awareness and collaboration to make real progress.
EV: What are the biggest regulatory challenges businesses face when it comes to water?
TF: Harmonisation is one of the biggest issues. Take water reuse: in some cases, the water leaving a factory is cleaner than the water entering it, but companies face barriers to reuse or discharge because regulations differ across member states or even conflict.
We need clear, harmonised EU guidance so that a solution developed for Belgium’s food and beverage sector can also be applied in Germany or Poland without reinventing it five times over. The current system wastes resources and time; for example, getting permits can take four times longer than implementing the project.
The WRS gives us the framework. Our report responds with key themes to translate it towards action, and the European Commission has welcomed bringing real examples of where legislation is hindering progress.
EV: What role do financial incentives play in driving water reuse and innovation?
TF: The real issue is valuing water properly. Today, water is often too cheap to create a business case for reuse. Unlike in the energy sector, where subsidies support solar panels or heat pumps, there are almost no mechanisms to incentivise circular water solutions.
The report isn’t suggesting a blank cheque to be the solution. It’s more about smart financial frameworks, tax rebates, subsidies, or public-private investments that reflect the real value of water. And that value is multidimensional: it’s not just H₂O. Water also carries temperature, chemicals, and energy.
If I can recover chemicals from wastewater or capture the energy in it, the benefits go far beyond the water itself. That’s where supportive incentives can unlock huge potential.
EV: Why do you think water often gets less attention than energy, and how can that change?
TF: Awareness is critical. Too often, water is treated as an operational issue, sitting with the COO or the sustainability team, but not in the CFO’s office. We need to bring water to the business agenda, not only on the “sustainability agenda.”
That means creating KPIs. What gets measured gets done. The WRS sets out more than fifty measures, but doesn’t provide enough indicators to track success. Shouldn’t we measure water reuse, water saved, jobs created, or patents developed? The truth is, it’s not just one metric; water contributes to competitiveness, innovation and resilience.
Policymakers recognise this too. [We have] heard strong signals that it’s time to move from strategy to execution. That really excited me.
EV: What kind of action is needed on the ground, at local or municipal level?
TF: The proof of the pudding is always local. Municipalities and small industries often face water challenges only once in a generation, for example, when upgrading sewage infrastructure. They need the tools and partnerships to make the right choices.
That means education, awareness campaigns, and embedding water in industrial policies. There is no Green Deal without a Blue Deal. The energy transition showed us how awareness can be built step by step. Water deserves the same attention.
Cross-sector collaboration is also vital. Sometimes one company’s wastewater could be another’s resource, but today we still think within fences. If we open those fences, we can create shared solutions that are good for industry, communities and the environment.
EV: How important is public awareness and citizen involvement in building water resilience?
TF: Citizens are already ahead of us. Our surveys show that 86% of Europeans see water shortages as a serious problem, 81% expect large companies to encourage governments to act, and 91% want governments to create the right conditions for business to protect water. That’s a clear mandate.
We need to tap into that by raising public awareness, fostering transparency, and involving the next generation. Water is not a “nice-to-have sustainability issue.” It is a core economic and security issue, too. Without water, there is no industry, no food, no life.
EV: What else should Europe consider beyond the measures already discussed?
TF: Across sectors, from food and beverage to energy and utilities, there is strong alignment that water is a shared priority and that industry has a vital role to play.
It is also clear that Europe has strengths it doesn’t fully acknowledge. We hold the most water technology patents in the world. But because the sector is fragmented, with thousands of small companies rather than a few global giants, this strength is overlooked. Competitiveness and resilience should be part of the water conversation, too.
And Denmark, holding the EU Presidency, shows how economic and sustainability goals can be connected. Every country has something to learn from others, but linking those two dimensions is essential for Europe as a whole.
EV: What’s ultimately at stake if Europe doesn’t get this right?
TF: This is not just about sustainability. It’s about Europe’s economic resilience. Without water, there is no industry, no competitiveness, no resilience against droughts or floods.
By reducing consumption, increasing water reuse and stewardship, and treating water as a critical resource, we not only adapt to climate change but also strengthen our economies. The two go hand in hand.
EV: And finally, what are the next steps?
TF: We need to keep the momentum going. Companies will continue their work, and cross-sector collaboration will intensify. Policymakers have committed to working with us; we’ll meet again in December to go from framework to real measures.
By 2027, there should be a mid-term implementation plan tracking progress, but nobody is waiting until then. Action starts now. Europe is already a frontrunner in water technologies. If we act together, we can stay ahead, strengthen competitiveness, and secure resilience for the long term.
(BM)
