Ecolab welcomes the European Commission's recent publication of the Water Resilience Strategy. At its heart, the Strategy recognises how resilient freshwater systems are foundational to the well-being of our planet, people, and economic security. Water directly enables productivity, growth, and competitiveness, playing a crucial role in energy, digitalisation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

While this publication marks an important step towards a comprehensive approach, we recognize that there is still much work to be done. At Ecolab, we are committed to supporting this journey and contributing to the development of effective water management practices.

In alignment with the Water Resilient Strategy, we have identified five key priorities that we believe are critical for industry:

1. Recommendation on the Water Efficiency First Principle: We support the guidelines and the European Environment Agency (EEA) report on the untapped water efficiency potential. This principle emphasizes the importance of prioritizing water efficiency in all sectors.
2. Pilot Project for Water Efficiency: We propose launching pilot projects to promote water efficiency, including waterless and closed water cycle technologies in selected industrial clusters. This initiative will demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of advanced water management practices
3. Support for Water Reuse Practices: We advocate for the uptake of water reuse practices beyond agriculture and the review of the Water Reuse Regulation. Expanding water reuse can significantly reduce water scarcity and promote sustainability.
4. Water Smart Industrial Alliance: We support the establishment of the Water Smart Industrial Alliance to stimulate competitiveness and innovation in water management across industries.
5. Single Water Accounting System: We welcome the proposed actions on the exchange of best practices on freshwater balances, the accounting of water flows, and the need to assess the quality of data available. We believe there is already sufficient data, and the crucial step is putting it all in a single water accounting system designed to collect all types of water-related information.

The priorities above reflect our commitment to advancing water sustainability and resilience. The Water Efficiency First principle sets out the guiding principles for decision-making and investments based on a clear prioritisation in the way water demand and supply are managed. It encourages a structured and systematic approach to water resource management across all sectors.  A Single Water Accounting System will enable us to understand whether the freshwater systems we rely on for economic and climate resilience have an inherent capacity to thrive. 

By working together, we can achieve significant progress in water management and contribute to a sustainable, secure, and competitive future for Europe. We look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to implement these priorities and drive positive change.