World Day to Combat Desertification, 17th June 2010

Desertification is a worldwide problem with many and complex causes. On the World Day to Combat Desertification "Enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere ", EUREAU, the European Federation of National Associations of Water and Wastewater Services, wants to join with others to call for action to combat desertification and to promote the reuse of water as a solution to water scarcity.

EUREAU and its Members support water recycling and reuse to combat water scarcity and desertification. “We recommend the development of an EU water reuse guidance framework to promote safe best practice for irrigation applications” highlights Klara Szatkiewicz, President of EUREAU. “We perceive the need to develop a European Guidance framework to be produced for all irrigation applications as this would be most supportive of the water framework directive objectives and food production.”

The River Basin Management Plans launched by the European Commission as a measure within the Water Framework Directive play an important role but alone are not enough to solve the problem of scarcity. EUREAU urges the Commission to take timely action to tackle adaptation and mitigation to Climate Change. Water suppliers cannot work alone to solve water scarcity but they are willing to work with other water abstractors and consumers, who all have an important role to play in using water wisely.

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Notes to the editor:

ü  EUREAU is the European Federation of National Associations of Water and Wastewater Services. Our members provide sustainable water services to more than 400 million people in Europe. They reflect the full diversity of the European water services sector and represent public, private and mixed operators. As the focus point of a European water network, EUREAU represents a unique concentration of technical, scientific and managerial knowledge and practical experience in water services and is the voice of water and wastewater operators in Europe

- EUREAU position on water reuse for irrigation as a water scarcity solution, adopted on 23 March 2010.

-  The World Day to Combat Desertification has been observed since 1995 (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/1995) to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought, and the implementation of the UNCCD.

EUREAU

European Federation of National Associations

of Water and Wastewater Services

Water, yes we care!

Providing water & sanitation to more than 400 millions European

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