The UPWATER project proudly announces the release of the first Policy Brief from the ZeroPollution4Water (ZP4W) Cluster and Water Europe, marking a pivotal advancement in our shared mission towards sustainable water management and zero pollution. This milestone reflects the combined efforts of the seven Horizon Europe projects, including UPWATER, dedicated to protecting our surface and groundwater, ensuring safe drinking water, and supporting other essential water uses.
Aligning Vision and Action
In October 2023, the inaugural Water Projects Europe cluster meeting in Brussels set the stage for this transformative vision. The resulting policy brief is more than a document; it is a manifesto for change. It highlights the tangible benefits each project, including UPWATER, contributes to the Zero Pollution Strategy. The brief is structured into two key sections: the first details the individual contributions and objectives of the seven projects, while the second presents critical findings and recommendations from the intoDBP and H2OforAll projects.
Introduction to the ZP4W Policy Brief
The ZP4W Cluster Policy Brief focuses on preventing groundwater contamination and ensuring the quality of drinking water through collaboration among seven EU-funded projects (NINFA, SafeCREW, Mar2Protect, H2OforALL, ToDrinQ, UPWATER, and intoDBP). These projects collectively aim to address issues such as the diffusion of pollutants, particularly in the face of climate change, which exacerbates water scarcity and quality concerns.
Central to the initiative is the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan (ZPAP), part of the European Green Deal, which targets reducing pollution across air, water, and soil to non-harmful levels, with ambitious goals for a toxic-free environment by 2050. This includes specific focuses on reducing microplastics and plastic litter in marine environments, reflecting a broader concern for pollutants including disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water, an area of emphasis within the policy brief.
The policy brief outlines the contributions of each project towards the cluster’s objectives, emphasizing innovations in groundwater and drinking water management, such as advanced monitoring strategies, risk assessment and management systems, and the development of new technologies for pollution prevention and water treatment.
The brief also highlights the need for integrated, policy-driven approaches to manage emerging contaminants and the importance of investments in research and innovation (R&I) to develop effective, cost-efficient solutions for water quality protection. Recommendations include developing flexible regulatory frameworks for DBPs, improving accessibility and coverage of safety data sheets, and investing in real-time data acquisition technologies for the detection and removal of micropollutants and pathogens.
Furthermore, the policy brief addresses the importance of supporting biobased and nature-based solutions, enhancing the resilience of drinking water infrastructure, and advocating for improved wastewater reuse and aquifer recharge practices. The document underscores the role of the cluster in supporting the implementation of the EU’s water-related legislation, fostering a comprehensive approach to water management that aligns with the Zero Pollution Strategy and the broader goals of the European Green Deal.
