Water scarcity working group - overview

Main Mediterranean specificities

• Most of the areas are characterised by a semi-arid/arid climate, which enhances water scarcity, where rainfall is main source of recharge
• Competition is high between various uses, especially agriculture and tourism in an area which relies on both for its GDP.
• Need to invest in non-conventional water resources to meet the gap between water and supply
• Possibility to use renewable forms of energy

• Unsustainable water management
• Over exploitation and water pollution
• Climate change impact
• Lack of adequate drought and water resources planning
• Complex hydro-political situation and lack of water agreements

Main recommendations

• Development of comprehensive long-term drought preparedness policies and action plans
• Development of coordination at EU level
• Development of knowledge on specific issues:

• Conduct research on the impact of climate change in the Mediterranean
• Raise public awareness on water scarcity and sustainable use of water

• Application of integrated water resources management
• Greater coordination among water users and across basins

Main particularities with regard to the WFD

• the directive is a “framework for the protection of waters which prevents further deterioration” (art. 1.a; art.4);
• the directive contributes to mitigate the effects of droughts (art. 1.e);
• water quantity can have a strong impact on water quality and therefore on the achievement of good ecological status;
• a “good quantitative status” is required for groundwater; a balance between abstraction and recharge must be ensured. Furthermore, groundwater levels should not be subject to anthropogenic alterations that might have impacts on surface waters.