Water abstraction by source and economic sector in Europe

The Water Framework Directive promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources. Between 2000-2023, total freshwater abstraction in the European Union decreased by 14%, mainly due to a decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling. However, total water abstraction has remained broadly stable since 2010. Sectoral trends have reversed, with abstraction increasing in public water supply, agriculture and industry. This underlines the need to improve water use efficiency to meet the European Water resilience strategy's 10% target by 2030.

Lead Image No image
Lead Image Caption
Metadata
DPSIR Pressure
Typology Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
UN SDGs SDG6: Clean water and sanitation
Topics Water, Nature protection and restoration
Temporal coverage { "readOnly": true, "temporal": [ { "label": "2000", "value": "2000" }, { "label": "2001", "value": "2001" }, { "label": "2002", "value": "2002" }, { "label": "2003", "value": "2003" }, { "label": "2004", "value": "2004" }, { "label": "2005", "value": "2005" }, { "label": "2006", "value": "2006" }, { "label": "2007", "value": "2007" }, { "label": "2008", "value": "2008" }, { "label": "2009", "value": "2009" }, { "label": "2010", "value": "2010" }, { "label": "2011", "value": "2011" }, { "label": "2012", "value": "2012" }, { "label": "2013", "value": "2013" }, { "label": "2014", "value": "2014" }, { "label": "2015", "value": "2015" }, { "label": "2016", "value": "2016" }, { "label": "2017", "value": "2017" }, { "label": "2018", "value": "2018" }, { "label": "2019", "value": "2019" }, { "label": "2020", "value": "2020" }, { "label": "2021", "value": "2021" }, { "label": "2022", "value": "2022" }, { "label": "2023", "value": "2023" } ] }
Geographic coverage { "readOnly": true, "geolocation": [ { "label": "Austria", "value": "geo-2782113" }, { "label": "Belgium", "value": "geo-2802361" }, { "label": "Bulgaria", "value": "geo-732800" }, { "label": "Croatia", "value": "geo-3202326" }, { "label": "Cyprus", "value": "geo-146669" }, { "label": "Czechia", "value": "geo-3077311" }, { "label": "Denmark", "value": "geo-2623032" }, { "label": "Estonia", "value": "geo-453733" }, { "label": "Finland", "value": "geo-660013" }, { "label": "France", "value": "geo-3017382" }, { "label": "Germany", "value": "geo-2921044" }, { "label": "Greece", "value": "geo-390903" }, { "label": "Hungary", "value": "geo-719819" }, { "label": "Ireland", "value": "geo-2963597" }, { "label": "Italy", "value": "geo-3175395" }, { "label": "Latvia", "value": "geo-458258" }, { "label": "Lithuania", "value": "geo-597427" }, { "label": "Luxembourg", "value": "geo-2960313" }, { "label": "Malta", "value": "geo-2562770" }, { "label": "Netherlands", "value": "geo-2750405" }, { "label": "Poland", "value": "geo-798544" }, { "label": "Portugal", "value": "geo-2264397" }, { "label": "Romania", "value": "geo-798549" }, { "label": "Slovakia", "value": "geo-3057568" }, { "label": "Slovenia", "value": "geo-3190538" }, { "label": "Spain", "value": "geo-2510769" }, { "label": "Sweden", "value": "geo-2661886" } ] }
Workflow
Content responsible Head of Group
Layout
Blocks { "2dc79b22-b2c8-450a-8044-ef04bfd044cf": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "2ec8ba1c-769d-41fd-98c3-1e72b9c1d736": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "39063c12-3096-4889-820e-41d8135cc4bf": { "@layout": "1bc4379d-cddb-4120-84ad-5ab025533b12", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [ "slate" ], "as": "section", "block": "0780224c-b31d-4261-b6bc-9ca76ec75cb6", "data": { "blocks": { "093ecf8d-0a41-48a1-9e9b-ebea217be0c6": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The share of surface and groundwater has shifted . From 2000-2023, groundwater abstraction in the agriculture sector increased 52% (11,000 to 16,500 million m\u00b3), driven by rising demand in southern, western, and eastern Europe, while surface water abstraction decreased by 13%. This shift could be due to changes in seasonal variability in surface water availability. Similarly, groundwater abstraction for public water supply also increased by 9% in EU-27. In the most recent period (2020-2023), groundwater accounted for 63% of total public water supply and 28% of agricultural water demand in the EU-27.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The share of " }, { "children": [ { "text": "surface and groundwater has shifted" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". From 2000-2023, groundwater abstraction in the agriculture sector increased 52% (11,000 to 16,500 million m\u00b3), driven by rising demand in southern, western, and eastern Europe, while surface water abstraction decreased by 13%. This shift could be due to changes in seasonal variability in surface water availability. Similarly, groundwater abstraction for public water supply also increased by 9% in EU-27. In the most recent period (2020-2023), groundwater accounted for 63% of total public water supply and 28% of agricultural water demand in the EU-27. \r" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "13def915-a7e4-45b9-9498-528c69429495": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Total freshwater abstraction per year in the EU 27 Member States decreased by 14%, from 224,000 million m\u00b3 during the 2000s (average of 2000-2009) to an average of 192,600 million m\u00b3 during 2020-2023. The decrease in water abstraction for electricity cooling during the first decade (2000-2009) has influenced this trend, whereas since 2010, there has been no significant change in total freshwater abstraction.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Total freshwater abstraction per year in the EU 27 Member States " }, { "children": [ { "text": "decreased" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " by 14%, from 224,000 million m\u00b3 during the 2000s (average of 2000-2009) to an average of 192,600 million m\u00b3 during 2020-2023. The decrease in water abstraction for electricity cooling during the first decade (2000-2009) has influenced this trend, whereas since 2010, there has been no significant change in total freshwater abstraction." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "28344242-8c1b-4917-8c02-ac8b7cfe4613": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "59cdba04-2cd9-4c69-b041-97b8972ebf06": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Freshwater plays an important role in meeting water demands for drinking, food, energy, industry, transport, and ecosystems. \rThe EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), aims to promote sustainable water use, prevent further deterioration of water resources, and protect and enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring changes in water abstraction from freshwater resources is key to tracking progress towards meeting the objectives of the WFD and the European Water resilience strategy .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Freshwater plays an " }, { "children": [ { "text": "important role" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " in meeting water demands for drinking, food, energy, industry, transport, and ecosystems. \rThe " }, { "children": [ { "text": "EU Water Framework Directive " } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32000L0060" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "(WFD), aims to promote sustainable water use, prevent further deterioration of water resources, and protect and enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring changes in water abstraction from freshwater resources is key to " }, { "children": [ { "text": "tracking progress" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " towards meeting the objectives of the WFD and the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "European Water resilience strategy" } ], "data": { "url": "https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ".\r" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "6bc40ec9-04ac-4aac-8ca8-87da23744030": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Explore water abstraction by source at the country level.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Explore " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/ee3a6d50e2dc419c8a37a1c68d510437" }, "children": [ { "text": "water abstraction by source" } ] }, { "text": " at the country level." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "a3fe5f8c-e3da-48f3-b564-1ef4d504f1e4": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "561369a6-ec68-4738-923c-8c35149ca0cc": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 1. Total water abstraction by source in average of moving decades (2000-2009; 2010-2019) and 2020-2023 in the 27 EU Member States", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1. Total water abstraction by source in average of moving decades (2000-2009; 2010-2019) and 2020-2023 in the 27 EU Member States" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "561369a6-ec68-4738-923c-8c35149ca0cc" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "styles": {} }, "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>figure instructions goes here</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/8042968929784995a9d74e531644952e" }, "dde7991a-e380-413f-8126-7e78e0a21461": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "deb7e84d-d2c8-4491-90fa-3dc65fe02143": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "fc6ce917-80f4-4d77-9516-eb7b1940fd70": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Surface water availability shows strong seasonal variations with a marked reduction during the spring and summer. This is when agricultural demand is the highest, particularly in southern Europe, and increases the pressure on the more stable groundwater. Enhancing water-use efficiency could reduce abstraction pressure on groundwater resources that also supports ecosystems, while contributing to climate change adaptation. This will assist the EU become more resilient to uncertainties in surface- and groundwater availability, while also supporting the overall objectives of the WFD and the European Water resilience strategy.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Surface water availability shows strong seasonal variations with a marked reduction during the spring and summer. This is when agricultural demand is the highest, particularly in southern Europe, and increases the pressure on the more stable groundwater. Enhancing water-use efficiency could " }, { "children": [ { "text": "reduce abstraction pressure" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " on groundwater resources that also supports ecosystems, while contributing to climate change adaptation. This will assist the EU become more resilient to uncertainties in surface- and groundwater availability, while also supporting the overall objectives of the WFD and the European Water resilience strategy." } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "a3fe5f8c-e3da-48f3-b564-1ef4d504f1e4", "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d", "59cdba04-2cd9-4c69-b041-97b8972ebf06", "13def915-a7e4-45b9-9498-528c69429495", "093ecf8d-0a41-48a1-9e9b-ebea217be0c6", "dde7991a-e380-413f-8126-7e78e0a21461", "28344242-8c1b-4917-8c02-ac8b7cfe4613", "fc6ce917-80f4-4d77-9516-eb7b1940fd70", "6bc40ec9-04ac-4aac-8ca8-87da23744030" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><strong>Assessment text remains at</strong> <strong>the relevant</strong> <strong>aggregate level</strong> <strong>(i.e.</strong> <strong>global, EU, sectoral)</strong> <strong>and addresses the following: </strong></p><ol keys=\"dkvn8,e367c,f4lpb,9j981,7ai6k,3g3pd\" depth=\"0\"><li>Explains in one or two sentences on the environmental rationale of the indicator, i.e. why it matters to the environment that we see an increase/decrease in the value measured.</li><li>Explains in one or two sentences the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional. More information on the policy objective and related references will be included in the supporting information section. Where there is no policy objective associated with the indicator, i.e. where the indicator addresses an issue that is important for future policy formulation, this text should explain instead why this issue is important.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any mismatch between what the indicator tracks and what the policy objective/issue is.</li><li>Qualifies the historical trend (e.g. steady increase) and explains the key reasons (e.g. policies) behind it. If there is a quantitative target it explains if we are on track to meet it.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any recent changes to the trend and why.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Describes what needs to happen to see adequate progress in future, for instance in order to remain on track to meet targets.</li></ol><p><strong>Please cite your work if</strong> <strong>necessary</strong> <strong>using the EEA citation style (i.e.</strong> <strong>EEA, 2020). A full reference list appears in the supporting information section.</strong></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "2000", "placeholder": "Aggregate level assessment e.g. progress at global, EU level..", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Aggregate level assessment" }, "65d12d1e-a491-460b-b7e3-98e3c1f634b2": { "@layout": "794c9b24-5cd4-4b9f-a0cd-b796aadc86e8", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [], "as": "section", "block": "65d12d1e-a491-460b-b7e3-98e3c1f634b2", "data": { "blocks": { "12d8c532-f7ad-43fe-ada7-330b2d7a7a39": { "@type": "slate", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "Published: date \u2012 25min read", "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Published: " }, { "children": [ { "text": "date" } ], "data": { "id": "effective", "widget": "datetime" }, "type": "mention" }, { "text": " \u2012 25min read" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240": { "@type": "description", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, it also indicates whether we are on track to meet it and if not what are the reasons preventing that, e.g. socio-economic drivers, implementation gap etc.</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "placeholder": "Summary", "plaintext": "The Water Framework Directive promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources. Between 2000-2023, total freshwater abstraction in the European Union decreased by 14%, mainly due to a decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling. However, total water abstraction has remained broadly stable since 2010. Sectoral trends have reversed, with abstraction increasing in public water supply, agriculture and industry. This underlines the need to improve water use efficiency to meet the European Water resilience strategy's 10% target by 2030.", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The Water Framework Directive promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources. Between 2000-2023, total freshwater abstraction in the European Union decreased by 14%, mainly due to a decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling. However, total water abstraction has remained broadly stable since 2010. Sectoral trends have reversed, with abstraction increasing in public water supply, agriculture and industry. This underlines the need to improve water use efficiency to meet the European Water resilience strategy's 10% target by 2030. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "3cccc2bb-471a-44c7-b006-5595c4713ff2": { "@type": "layoutSettings", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "layout_size": "narrow_view", "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true }, "ddde07aa-4e48-4475-94bd-e1a517d26eab": { "copyrightIcon": "ri-copyright-line", "styles": {}, "variation": "default", "@type": "title", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hideContentType": true, "hideCreationDate": true, "hideDownloadButton": true, "hideModificationDate": true, "placeholder": "Indicator title", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "ddde07aa-4e48-4475-94bd-e1a517d26eab", "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240", "3cccc2bb-471a-44c7-b006-5595c4713ff2" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, it also indicates whether we are on track to meet it and if not what are the reasons preventing that, e.g. socio-economic drivers, implementation gap etc.</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "500", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "styles": { "style_name": "environment-theme-bg" }, "title": "Content header" }, "677f7422-6da4-4c86-bca8-de732b7047b9": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "72f2047a-9d97-47b0-8a7b-6d0234106af9": { "@layout": "8cb090c3-7071-40b8-9c7b-aca2ca3d0ad9", "@type": "accordion", "allowedBlocks": [ "columnsBlock", "slateFootnotes", "metadataSection" ], "block": "203d6014-7c71-49ba-a992-3b12a2571702", "collapsed": true, "data": { "blocks": { "309c5ef9-de09-4759-bc02-802370dfa366": { "@type": "accordionPanel", "blocks": { "e047340c-c02e-4247-89ab-5fec73aeb5d3": { "@type": "columnsBlock", "data": { "blocks": { "a8a2323e-32af-426e-9ede-1f17affd664c": { "blocks": { "fe145094-71e0-4b3d-82f3-e4d79ac13533": { "@type": "metadataSection", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fields": [ { "@id": "94d638f1-89e1-4f97-aa59-b89b565f60fb", "field": { "id": "taxonomy_typology", "title": "Typology", "widget": "choices" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "ec261e45-f97d-465c-b5a3-0e4aa5187114", "field": { "id": "taxonomy_un_sdgs", "title": "UN SDGs", "widget": "array" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "eaef9ff4-0f8d-4360-9d19-5c6a2fd2dd00", "field": { "id": "unit_of_measure", "title": "Unit of measure", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "089cd1a1-92d4-47e2-8f6e-4bdb358600fe", "field": { "id": "frequency_of_dissemination", "title": "Frequency of dissemination", "widget": "integer" }, "showLabel": true } ], "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Right column", "variation": "default" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "fe145094-71e0-4b3d-82f3-e4d79ac13533" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true }, "d9b41958-c17c-45f8-bae1-4140b537a033": { "blocks": { "2a56568a-10af-4a5b-8c73-22aa8cb734fe": { "@type": "metadataSection", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fields": [ { "@id": "48a20e0b-d3bd-41ac-aa06-e97c61071bd2", "field": { "id": "taxonomy_dpsir", "title": "DPSIR", "widget": "choices" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "34ceb93f-b405-4afd-aeae-a05abd44d355", "field": { "id": "topics", "title": "Topics", "widget": "array" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "fd2cdb9e-5ddd-4b46-8382-0d687ce2883e", "field": { "id": "subjects", "title": "Tags", "widget": "tags" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "0e842d87-c9f4-438e-b234-f83141d25ff3", "field": { "id": "temporal_coverage", "title": "Temporal coverage", "widget": "temporal" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "0b8ee8c2-046b-4243-9f11-116df6e0a524", "field": { "id": "geo_coverage", "title": "Geographic coverage", "widget": "geolocation" }, "showLabel": true } ], "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Left column", "variation": "default" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "2a56568a-10af-4a5b-8c73-22aa8cb734fe" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d9b41958-c17c-45f8-bae1-4140b537a033", "a8a2323e-32af-426e-9ede-1f17affd664c" ] } }, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "gridCols": [ "halfWidth", "halfWidth" ], "gridSize": 12, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Metadata" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "e047340c-c02e-4247-89ab-5fec73aeb5d3" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true, "title": "Metadata" }, "546a7c35-9188-4d23-94ee-005d97c26f2b": { "@type": "accordionPanel", "blocks": { "b5381428-5cae-4199-9ca8-b2e5fa4677d9": { "@type": "metadataSection", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fields": [ { "@id": "62c471fc-128f-4eff-98f9-9e83d9643fc7", "field": { "id": "data_description", "title": "Definition", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "ee67688d-3170-447a-a235-87b4e4ff0928", "field": { "id": "methodology", "title": "Methodology", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "b8a8f01c-0669-48e3-955d-d5d62da1b555", "field": { "id": "policy_relevance", "title": "Policy/environmental relevance", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "d71a80d1-0e65-46d9-8bd4-45aca22bc5dc", "field": { "id": "accuracy_and_reliability", "title": "Accuracy and uncertainties", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "97ed11f5-4d31-4462-b3b0-2756a6880d31", "field": { "id": "data_provenance", "title": "Data sources and providers", "widget": "data_provenance" }, "showLabel": true } ], "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Supporting information", "variation": "default" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "b5381428-5cae-4199-9ca8-b2e5fa4677d9" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true, "title": "Supporting information" }, "ecdb3bcf-bbe9-4978-b5cf-0b136399d9f8": { "@type": "accordionPanel", "blocks": { "d9aa8ed3-1c8a-4134-a324-663489a04473": { "@type": "slateFootnotes", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "global": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "placeholder": "References and footnotes will appear here", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d9aa8ed3-1c8a-4134-a324-663489a04473" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true, "selected": "b142c252-337d-4f6e-8ed2-ff4c43601e2f", "title": "References and footnotes" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "546a7c35-9188-4d23-94ee-005d97c26f2b", "309c5ef9-de09-4759-bc02-802370dfa366", "ecdb3bcf-bbe9-4978-b5cf-0b136399d9f8" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "non_exclusive": false, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "readOnlyTitles": true, "required": true, "title": "Additional information", "title_size": "h3" }, "a5c99a3e-3463-42cd-a186-80567c097ab6": { "@layout": "d060487d-88fc-4f7b-8ea4-003f14e0fb0c", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [ "slate" ], "as": "section", "block": "b5e80065-435e-46e4-b8bc-e4b70760f6df", "data": { "blocks": { "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/69534485f509418a8fa72973f1dccce0" }, "10ed7bf8-277d-419a-b837-5b8e0377f5d4": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "electricity cooling 33%; agriculture (dominated by irrigation) 31%; public water supply 21%; manufacturing 14%; construction, mining and quarrying each accounted for less than 1% of total abstraction.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "children": [ { "text": "electricity cooling 33%;" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "agriculture (dominated by irrigation) 31%;" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "public water supply 21%; " } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "manufacturing 14%;" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "construction, mining and quarrying each accounted for less than 1% of total abstraction. " } ], "type": "li" } ], "type": "ul" } ] }, "14a9676e-c580-4440-ae6a-5cae38fd0672": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "In 2020-2023, the share of total water abstraction by economic sectors was distributed as follows:", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "In 2020-2023, the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "share of total water abstraction" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " by economic sectors was distributed as follows: " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "3ccd8062-8b9f-4184-9620-3e5cdf5e1d64": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Between 2000-2023, total freshwater abstraction in the EU-27 decreased by 14% due to a 30% decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling, from about 90,000 million m 3 (2000-2009) to 62,000 million m 3 (2020-2023). The trend could be attributed to the transition from fossil to renewable electricity supply with the proportion of renewable power rising from 19% in 2005 to 47% in\u00a02023 .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Between 2000-2023, total freshwater abstraction in the EU-27 decreased by 14% due to a 30% decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling, from about 90,000 million m" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": " (2000-2009) to 62,000 million m" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": " (2020-2023). The trend could be attributed to the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "transition from fossil to renewable " } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "electricity supply with the proportion of renewable power " }, { "children": [ { "text": "rising from 19% in 2005 to 47% in\u00a02023" } ], "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/d0237888994e4217a4be61b5f25f860a" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "7e8fa334-390a-40be-b3e9-ae584213e54f": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling largely shaped the EU-wide pattern. Since 2010, total water abstraction has remained stable, with a reverse trend for public water supply (+5%), agriculture (+4%), and manufacturing (+3%). These developments underscore the need to enhance water use efficiency to meet the 10% target of the European Water resilience strategy.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling largely shaped the EU-wide pattern. Since 2010, total water abstraction has remained stable, with a reverse trend for public water supply (+5%), agriculture (+4%), and manufacturing (+3%). These developments underscore the need to enhance water use efficiency to meet the 10% target of the European Water resilience strategy." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "886756bc-5dc6-465a-9823-ee2f3442dba6": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Explore water abstraction by economic sector at the country level.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Explore " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/c1bd34b99a56484a95d008f74e49fd76" }, "children": [ { "text": "water abstraction by economic sector" } ] }, { "text": " at the country level." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "ba286c4e-41e7-4dca-bf63-ca7de9842950": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "e16bbe10-8a12-46c6-ad4a-da34e68981b6": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 2. . Total water abstraction by economic sector in average of moving decades (2000-2009; 2010-2019) and 2020-2023 in the 27 EU Member States", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2. . Total water abstraction by economic sector in average of moving decades (2000-2009; 2010-2019) and 2020-2023 in the 27 EU Member States" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "e16bbe10-8a12-46c6-ad4a-da34e68981b6" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "styles": {} }, "d3d49723-14e5-4663-b346-37ee3572f28d": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "ba286c4e-41e7-4dca-bf63-ca7de9842950", "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e", "d3d49723-14e5-4663-b346-37ee3572f28d", "14a9676e-c580-4440-ae6a-5cae38fd0672", "10ed7bf8-277d-419a-b837-5b8e0377f5d4", "3ccd8062-8b9f-4184-9620-3e5cdf5e1d64", "7e8fa334-390a-40be-b3e9-ae584213e54f", "886756bc-5dc6-465a-9823-ee2f3442dba6" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<ol keys=\"9bbul,b1sa2,171og,1c1t5\" depth=\"0\"><li>Depending on the indicator context, this text can provide information at country level or, if this is not relevant, at some other level, e.g. sectoral, regional level.</li><li>This text interprets the data represented in the chart, rather than describing results, i.e. it provides explanations for some of the results.</li><li>The text related to progress at this level does not have to be comprehensive.</li><li>If there is no information that adds value to what is already visible there is no need to have any text.</li></ol>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "1000", "placeholder": "Disaggregate level assessment e.g. country, sectoral, regional level assessment", "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Disaggregate level assessment" }, "e9736b7c-4902-48aa-aecd-b706409a576d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} } }
Blocks Layout { "items": [ "65d12d1e-a491-460b-b7e3-98e3c1f634b2", "39063c12-3096-4889-820e-41d8135cc4bf", "a5c99a3e-3463-42cd-a186-80567c097ab6", "72f2047a-9d97-47b0-8a7b-6d0234106af9" ] }
Supporting information
Methodology [ { "children": [ { "text": "Water abstraction is presented as million m\u00b3 of water abstracted by economic sector from surface water and groundwater. Economic sectors are defined in line with NACE (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Communities) sections:" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (NACE Section A);" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Mining and quarrying (NACE Section B);" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Manufacturing (NACE Section C);" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (NACE Section D);" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Water collection, treatment, and supply (NACE Section E \u2014 Division 36);" } ], "type": "li" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Construction (NACE Section F)." } ], "type": "li" } ], "type": "ul" }, { "children": [ { "text": "It takes into account the gross volume of water abstracted, including losses and leakages, and excludes water returns from the economy back to the environment." } ], "type": "p" }, { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": "The trend analyses are based on a decadal moving average: the first decade covers 2000-2009, the second 2010-2019, and the most recent 2020-2023, which will be extended as the indicator is updated. Data reported by countries to WISE SoE and Eurostat show gaps in spatial and temporal coverage, as well as in economic sectors. The decadal moving average is used to minimise the impact of missing values and to smooth out short-term effects of climate extremes on water demand." } ] } ]
Data sources and providers { "readOnly": true, "data": [ { "@id": "1b673516-6e77-4adc-ad87-604c2d6a8218", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/a4324714-784a-4763-b8b9-b8939ead87fe", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)", "title": "Waterbase - Water quantity" }, { "@id": "d584c2c0-d407-4f15-90fa-e8915afcf47d", "title": "Annual freshwater abstraction by source and sector", "link": "https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/env_wat_abs/default/table?lang=en&category=env.env_wat.env_nwat", "organisation": "Eurostat - European statistics" } ] }
Definition [ { "children": [ { "text": "This indicator monitors water abstraction from groundwater and surface water overall, as well as for specific economic sectors: cooling in electricity generation, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying, and public water supply, including services." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Unit of measure [ { "children": [ { "text": "Water abstraction by sector is given as millions of cubic meters (million m" }, { "type": "sup", "children": [ { "text": "3" } ] }, { "text": ") and water abstraction from surface water and groundwater as percentage." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Policy / environmental relevance [ { "children": [ { "text": "The purpose of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) is \u2014 inter alia \u2014 to promote sustainable water use based on the long-term protection of available water resources. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The EU\u2019s new " }, { "children": [ { "text": "circular economy action plan" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0098" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " explicitly addresses water stress and contains provisions for improving resource efficiency in the context of water resource management. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Water Reuse Regulation" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0741" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " aims at enhancing the use of reclaimed water in agriculture by setting out minimum requirements for water reuse. The replacement of freshwater abstractions with reclaimed water may decrease the pressure to surface water and groundwater. However, caution is needed regarding the impacts of water reuse on ecological flows, as treated outflows of urban wastewater treatment plants can be a significant share of the existing river flow." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)" } ], "data": { "url": "https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " aims to achieve the production of affordable, safe and good-quality food by implementing environmentally sustainable farming that protects natural resources and landscapes, enhances biodiversity, addresses climate change risks and stimulates the growth of rural communities and economies" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "data": { "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EC, 2018, Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP strategic plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, COM(2018) 392 final.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EC, 2018, Proposal for a Regulation of the Europea", "uid": "9RQsy", "zoteroId": "WXE228DC" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": ". Among other things, the CAP supports investments in water conservation, upgrading irrigation infrastructure and training farmers to improve irrigation techniques. This indicator provides information to support the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (CMEF) for CAP implementation, which was established by the European Commission. The CMEF includes different sets of indicators on a range of agricultural issues, such as a set of impact indicators measuring the impact of policy interventions. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Farm to Fork strategy" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0381" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", which focuses on making food systems more sustainable, is an integral part of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "European Green Deal" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0381" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " . \n\nIn addition, the Commission sets out a specific target in the" }, { "children": [ { "text": " European Water resilience strategy" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0280" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " to enhance water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030, considering the potential water savings by focusing on restoring and protecting the water cycle, building a water-smart economy, ensuring access to clean and affordable water for all. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Climate Adaptation strategy" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0082" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " focuses on faster and more systemic climate adaptation and international cooperation for climate resilience. One of its main objectives is to support the reduction of water use by raising the water-saving requirements for products, encouraging water efficiency and savings, and by promoting the wider use of drought management plans as well as sustainable soil management and land use." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The recast " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Drinking Water Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020L2184" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " requires the assessment of the current level of leakages in water infrastructure and the implementation of measures for their reduction. The requirement covers at least water suppliers supplying more than 10,000 m\u00b3 per day or serving more than 50 000 people." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0380" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " aims at restoring freshwater ecosystems (\u201cat least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers\"). In this regard, the EU Biodiversity Strategy emphasises the WFD requirement to review water abstraction and impoundment permits to implement ecological flows, and achieve good status or potential of all surface waters and good status of all groundwater by 2027 at the latest." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emission Directive (" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Directive 2010/75/EU" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:02010L0075-20240804" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ") is the main EU legal framework to prevent and control emissions from large industrial and livestock installations. Its revision in 2024 (often referred to as IED 2.0) included stronger tools to address water scarcity and circular economy challenges- for instance, permits will also contain binding quantitative resource efficiency requirements for materials, water and energy, as appropriate.\u00a0 " }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "i" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Frequency of dissemination 1
Accuracy and uncertainties [ { "children": [ { "text": "The following uncertainties are related to the data sets used for the indicator:" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 Water abstraction is regulated nationally through permitting and registration regimes, which differ across EEA member and cooperating countries. Such differences may affect data availability and comparability. The reported volumes of water abstracted do not account for unauthorised or unregistered self-abstraction, which is a common issue in some areas." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 Several countries (e.g., France, Greece, Malta, Slovenia) do not report abstraction for agricultural activities other than irrigated crop production (e.g. for animal raising or aquaculture)." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 Several countries (e.g., the Netherlands, Poland) use dual irrigation/drainage systems (i.e. drainage during wet seasons and submerged irrigation in dry seasons by raising water tables in rivers or groundwater). It is not clear if the reported agricultural abstraction volumes account for these practices." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 As the indicator uses data from different data sources (e.g. WISE SoE, Eurostat), any methodological differences in survey methods or practical differences in reporting by countries, may cause inconsistencies in presented data from different sources. However, these remain the best available officially reported data.\u00a0\u00a0" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\u00b7 Gap filling the data on water abstraction for agriculture, public water supply, electricity cooling and manufacturing and construction has to be performed because of large gaps in the database for those variables that are associated with high degrees of uncertainty. Therefore, the data used in this indicator assessment may deviate from the national data that countries collect. See the additional clarification on the data gap filling methods. " } ], "type": "p" } ]
Settings
Short name water-abstraction-by-source-and
Versioning enabled yes
Contents
Total water abstraction by economic sector in average of moving decades (2000-2009; 2010-2019) and 2020-2023 in the 27 EU Member States

The graph presents total water abstraction in average of moving decades by economic sectors (2000-2009; 2010-2019) and 2020-2023 in the 27 EU Member States. The economic sectors are agriculture (NACE A), mining and quarrying (NACE B), manufacturing (NACE C), electricity cooling (NACE D CL), public water supply (NACE E-36, and group of NACE G-U) and construction (NACE F), as classified in the NACE (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Communities) sections. Hydropower is excluded.

Water abstraction by source, 2000-2023

This graph presents the shares of groundwater (dark blue) and surface water (light blue) in total annual water abstraction in the Eionet Member Countries, 2000-2023. Surface water contains water abstraction from rivers, reservoirs and lakes. Water abstraction for hydropower is excluded.

Water abstraction by economic sector, 2000-2023

Annual total water abstraction by economic sector as defined in NACE (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Communities) i.e. agriculture (NACE A), mining and quarrying (NACE B), manufacturing (NACE C), electricity cooling (NACE D CL), public water supply (NACE E 36, group NACE G-U) and construction (NACE F) in the Eionet Member Countries, 2000-2022. Hydropower is excluded.