Europe under pressure: What helps against water stress

In October 2024, the European Environment Agency published a report with a problem that H2O has been tackling for 25 years: many of Europe's bodies of water are not doing well. Only 37 percent of European lakes and rivers are in a good condition.¹ From the point of view of the EU Environment Agency EEA, Europe's water supply is facing a major challenge. Water-intensive industries, in particular, are noticeably affected by this water stress. What can help? Recirculation, conserving resources, and innovations that are not only sustainable but also economical. A conversation with Fabian Argast, head of H2O's own application centre for wastewater-free production.

Are you surprised that our waters are in such a poor condition?

Fabian Argast: No. It's regrettable, but not surprising. Unfortunately, the situation has also not improved significantly since 2010 – the European Environment Agency (EEA) has also recently published information about this.

The majority of pollution enters the waterways through agriculture. However, there is also great potential for improvements in industry, as this area accounts for around 20 percent² of fresh water volumes that are withdrawn worldwide. Is a rethink taking place here compared to the beginnings of H2O, 25 years ago?

We are actually seeing a rethink taking place in industry when it comes to water consumption and water pollution. More and more companies are relying on circular technologies to use water multiple times over and to reduce consumption. The increasing demand can also be seen in the number of H2O's employees: from an initial 6 employees, we have grown to over 130 employees in 25 years. More and more customers want not only to reduce their disposal costs but also to conserve resources and reuse their treated water. Companies are thus killing two birds with one stone for the benefit of the environment: they are independent of fresh water procurement and – because they no longer discharge any wastewater – keep public bodies of water clean.

What reasons do industrial companies have to opt for sustainable solutions? 

Stricter environmental regulations have been enacted in recent years, with the aim of improving water quality and reducing pollution. Companies are well advised to adhere to these regulations in order to avoid heavy penalties and legal consequences.

However, that is not the only reason. In addition to improving the company's image, economic aspects also often play a major role. New technologies and innovative processes help make it possible to implement sustainable solutions more easily and cost-effectively.

What advice do you give companies for how to improve their ecological footprint?

It is certainly worthwhile to take a look at the topic of "renewable energies". Investing in solar, wind or hydropower can significantly reduce energy consumption from fossil fuels.

Furthermore, topics such as waste management, recycling, and reuse of resources are extremely important. We have some customers who are able to recover precious raw materials from the evaporation concentrates, use concentrate that contains oil as a fuel, or resell the concentrated oil.

At this juncture, I would like to draw attention to one important point: it is advisable to deal with water treatment at an early stage, and not just if you are forced to do so, for example, by official requirements. The planning and design of the treatment plant, any administrative procedures, and the installation and piping of the finished solution take some time. If the wastewater has to be disposed of during this time, for example, because it must no longer be discharged, that can quickly become expensive.

What are your wishes for the future regarding the health of our environment?

Sustainable use of our resources is essential to protect and preserve them. Only by doing this can we create a healthy world for future generations. 

Everyone can play a part in this. For example, in our application centre for wastewater-free production, my colleagues and I are constantly further developing our products to enable companies to achieve sustainable wastewater treatment that also pays off economically. New innovations are not being neglected either. This way, together with our customers, we can ensure that the state of the waters improves again – and that we can hopefully read more positive headlines again in ten years' time.

Sources

1 - European Environment Agency (EEA)  Pollution, over-use and climate change threaten water resilience in Europe | European Environment Agency's home page 

2 - Website "Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung" (German) Wasserverbrauch | Globalisierung | bpb.de