EU Plans 10% Water Use Cut, €15B Investment to Address Shortages

The European Union has introduced a comprehensive Water Resilience Strategy aiming to improve water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 amid escalating climate challenges such as droughts, pollution, and infrastructure issues. The strategy, which is not legally binding, encourages member states to set their own water efficiency targets tailored to national circumstances and emphasizes implementation of existing water laws rather than new regulations. A key focus is on sectors with significant water-saving potential, including electricity, agriculture, and public water supply. The EU plans to impose stricter water usage standards on data centers due to their high water consumption for AI cooling, potentially limiting the adoption of liquid cooling technologies critical for AI hardware. Supporting the strategy, the European Investment Bank will allocate over €15 billion from 2025 to 2027 for large infrastructure projects and nature-based solutions, while the Commission will pursue public-private initiatives to address persistent chemical pollution like PFAS. These efforts reflect a coordinated approach to securing Europe's water future by balancing environmental, technological, and economic considerations.