Tapping into Solutions
Opportunities and Challenges for Industry in Europe’s Resilient Water Future
Launched in June 2025, the EU Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) outlines over 45 actions to:
- Restore and protect the water cycle
- Build a water-smart economy to support competitiveness
- Ensure clean and affordable water for all
- Boost investment in water infrastructure
- Integrate water into security and resilience planning
European businesses play a vital role in turning this vision into reality and industry leaders across the continent support the strategy’s ambition and urgency – but emphasise that success hinges on supportive policies, harmonised standards, and targeted incentives.
With Denmark currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the theme “A strong Europe in a changing world”, Grundfos is proud to contribute to shaping a future where water resilience drives competitiveness, climate adaptation, and sustainable growth.
This report highlights five key policy levers that can unlock large-scale business action and help achieve the EU WRS goals. These levers are grounded in industry insights and designed to accelerate progress:
Five Policy Levers for Impact:
- Harmonised standards and supportive frameworks to scale investment potential: Coordinated, fit-for-purpose EU standards and supportive frameworks at the Member State level to unlock industrial water reuse and circularity across the EU.
- Financial incentives and mechanisms to support infrastructure and innovation: Grants, tax credits, subsidies, public-private investments, and supportive water pricing to overcome cost barriers.
- Strategic awareness and guidance for business to integrate water stewardship into strategic commercial planning: Clear, harmonised guidance and tools to create a common understanding and enable strategic implementation at business level.
- Local capacity building and cross-sector collaboration to drive integrated and shared business solutions: Empower local leaders and foster partnerships to drive innovation, shared infrastructure, and action at the watershed or catchment level.
- Societal momentum to treat water as a critical resource: Consumer campaigns, public awareness, inclusive partnerships, transparency, and dialogue to build trust, upskill the next generation, and make action on responsible water use a shared societal priority.
European citizens are also ready for change.
GlobeScan also surveyed European citizens across 8 countries and found that:
- 81% believe that large companies have a responsibility to encourage governments to do more to protect water;
- 91% want governments to create the right conditions for businesses to protect and manage water sustainably.
Shaped by voices across Europe this report, will inform further dialogues with stakeholders that can contribute to making a sustainable impact for a resilient Europe.
Water is life – and the messenger of our climate reality.
From droughts to floods and from pollution to scarcity, water reveals the urgency of our environmental challenges and the opportunity to act smarter. As Europe faces increasing water stress, impacting not just the environment but also our economic, energy, and food security, Grundfos is committed to shaping a future where water is managed efficiently, equitably, and sustainably.
About Grundfos
Grundfos is a global leader in providing water and energy-efficient solutions across various sectors, including industry, residential, commercial buildings, utilities, and agriculture. Grundfos Industry is redefining industrial water treatment to accelerate the global transformation of water and energy. Founded in Denmark in 1945, our company is renowned for its exceptional products and solutions that significantly reduce energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and water usage, while delivering substantial cost savings for its customers. We are proud to be the first water solutions company to set validated science-based targets for achieving net zero emissions. We maintain rigorous standards to continuously enhance our social impact and inclusivity.
