About the program

In our envisioned future, society is water-resilient, meaning it has the capacity to adapt, manage, and recover from both minor and major unexpected disruptions, as well as crises and war. Preparedness measures ensure the continuity of water supply, preventing critical societal disruptions. Current and future potential drinking water sources are safeguarded, with risks mapped and mitigated through preventive or risk-reducing actions in accordance with the Drinking Water Directive.

Entire drainage basins are considered to store water in the landscape, secure water services, prevent pollution spread, mitigate floods, and reduce the effects of heat and prolonged drought. A sustainable approach to water is applied in cities through multifunctional blue-green infrastructure, infrastructure redundancy, and diversification of water sources and technical systems. Policies, governance, and societal structures support systemic changes that enhance water management resilience.

This approach ensures good conditions for human health and the environment, even under the impact of climate change, crises, and war—allowing cities and communities to provide a high quality of life.

In our envisioned future, all sectors of society practice wise water use, consuming only the necessary amount and quality of water. Everyone has access to sufficient water to support thriving ecosystems, safe drinking water, food and energy production, and a competitive economy.

Wise water use ensures a long-term sustainable balance between water availability and consumption for both people and the environment. Water and its resources are reused multiple times to reduce resource strain. Resources currently flowing through various water streams are recovered and reused to help reduce the climate footprint, secure food production, and strengthen society’s and industries’ ability to adapt and evolve.

Reused water and extracted resources hold value, creating economic incentives for reuse and recirculation. Users are conscious consumers who understand the significance and value of water.

In our envisioned future, lakes, streams, and groundwater are thriving, protected, and future-proofed, enabling both sustainable use and the preservation of biodiversity. Pollution sources and pathways have been identified and minimized, ensuring that groundwater and surface water achieve and maintain good status in accordance with the Water Framework Directive. This also allows for simpler treatment processes to produce safe and clean drinking water.

The connection between water and land requires a holistic approach, considering entire drainage basins to ensure the protection of surface and groundwater. By taking the whole drainage basin area into account, urban development and economic activities can continue without compromising water resources.