CORDIS Express: The water challenge
Sometimes winter in Europe can feel like an endless stream of rainy days. Splashing through yet another downpour, it may be difficult to believe that water scarcity and drought is an increasingly frequent and widespread phenomenon in the EU. In 2011 and 2012 droughts affected large parts of Southern, Western and even Northern Europe. The 2011 drought has been referred to as the worst in a century with rainfall as low as 40 % of normal. In both years water availability was significantly reduced in the spring and water use restrictions were put in place in large parts of the EU. In 2007 at least 11 % of the EU population and 17 % of its territory had experienced water scarcity and the phenomenon is getting worse; currently an important share of river basins can be considered as under water stress all year round. During summer months water scarcity is more pronounced in Southern Europe but is also becoming increasingly important in Northern basins, including the United Kingdom and Germany. The water challenge cannot be looked at in isolation – it will be affected by rising demand for food, materials and energy, and by climate change. For example, increased energy use leads to increased demands for cooling water for thermal power plants, and climate mitigation options such as biomass production for energy (biofuels) might also lead to increased land and water demands. Under Horizon 2020, the sub-call ‘Water Innovation: Boosting its value for Europe’ offers a number of open research topics that may help us to tackle the current and future challenges in relation to water. Divided between 'one stage'(opens in new window) and 'two stage'(opens in new window), they include the development of water supply and sanitation technology, systems and tools, and/or methodologies and water management solutions for the agricultural sector, among others. Researchers across Europe are already exploring solutions to the water challenge. This week’s edition of CORDIS Express takes a look at their efforts, as well as related news. - A virtual solution for sharing water treatment innovations(opens in new window) - High fluxes for water filtration(opens in new window) - Trending science: Study reveals scale of water crisis in areas of Pakistan(opens in new window) - Trapped visible light cleans water(opens in new window) - Dissemination and uptake of FP water research results(opens in new window)
Countries
Belgium