Sectoral use of water

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Sectors have different demands for water across Europe. On average, 33 % of total water abstraction in countries is used for agriculture, 16 % for urban use, 11 % for industry (excluding cooling), and 40 % for energy production.

Figure 5.6 shows the sectoral use of water per region in Europe. The southern accession countries and western southern countries use the largest percentages of abstracted water for agriculture (75 %, and 50 %, respectively). Irrigation is the most significant use of water in agriculture in southern countries. Western central and western accession countries are the largest users of water for energy production (including cooling water) (57 %), followed by urban use. In particular, Belgium, Germany and Estonia use more than half of the abstracted water for energy production.

The decrease of agricultural and industrial activities in central accession countries during the transition process led to decreases of about 70 % in water abstracted for agricultural and industrial uses in most of the countries (Figure 5.7). Agricultural activities reached their minima around the mid-1990s, but more recently countries are increasing crop and livestock production (EC, 2002). Data show a 30 % decrease in abstractions for public water supply (urban use) in central accession countries. In most of these countries, the new economic conditions led to water supply companies increasing the price of water and installing water meters in houses. This resulted in people using less water. Industries connected to the public systems also reduced their industrial production and hence water use. In most countries, the supply network is obsolete and losses in distribution systems require high abstraction volumes to maintain supply.