Restoring LIFE to Europe’s polluted water supplies – cinea.ec.europa.eu

 

Report on EU Water Decontamination Initiatives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A report on the increasing chemical contamination of water supplies across the European Union and innovative projects designed to address this challenge, with a specific focus on their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1. The Challenge to Water Security and Public Health (SDG 3, SDG 6)

Water resources in the EU face significant threats from contamination by hazardous chemicals, including heavy metals, pesticides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’. These contaminants, originating from agricultural run-off, industrial discharge, and landfill leakage, pose a direct risk to human health and ecosystems, undermining progress towards SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Key Findings on Water Quality:

• A European Commission report indicates that 69% of Europeans view pollution as the primary threat to water resources.
• Only 37% of Europe’s surface waters are classified as being in a healthy ecological state.
• An estimated 100,000 sites across Europe are contaminated with PFAS.
• The annual cost associated with cleaning up nutrient pollution alone is approximately €75 billion.

This situation directly impacts the achievement of SDG Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating the release of hazardous chemicals.

2. Innovative Projects for Sustainable Water Management

In response to these challenges, several EU-funded projects are developing innovative solutions that align with multiple SDGs, particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

2.1. The LIFE SOuRCE Project

The LIFE SOuRCE project is a €2.8 million, five-year initiative focused on developing sustainable remediation technologies for PFAS-contaminated groundwater. By establishing demonstration sites in Spain and Sweden, the project aims to create cost-efficient and replicable solutions that will be commercially available upon its conclusion in 2026.

Project Contributions to SDGs:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Develops new technologies required to meet EU drinking water directives on PFAS concentration limits.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Fosters innovation in environmental technology, ensuring solutions are scalable and ready for market deployment.

2.2. The LIFE REMEMBRANCE Project

The LIFE REMEMBRANCE project, a €2.2 million initiative, addresses water contamination through a circular economy model. The project not only decontaminates drinking water from PFAS and other emerging pollutants but also repurposes industrial waste—specifically, high-quality hollow fibre membranes (HFMs)—into functional components for new water filters.

Project Contributions to SDGs:

1. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The project exemplifies circular economy principles by reducing industrial waste and repurposing materials, directly contributing to SDG Target 12.5 (substantially reduce waste generation).
2. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): A Living Water Lab in Ferrara, Italy, pilots the extraction of micropollutants from the River Po, enhancing the safety of drinking water for citizens.
3. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Merges industrial expertise with environmental innovation to scale up laboratory-developed technology for real-world application.

3. Broader Impact on EU Policy and Global Goals

Both LIFE SOuRCE and LIFE REMEMBRANCE provide critical support for a wide range of EU environmental policies and contribute to the overarching goals of the European Green Deal. Their work directly enables the implementation of key directives and regulations designed to protect natural resources and public health.

Supported EU Frameworks:

• 2025 Water Resilience Strategy
• EU Water Framework Directive
• Drinking Water Directive
• Groundwater Directive
• EU Soil Strategy for 2030
• EU POPs Regulation

By advancing technological solutions and promoting circularity, these projects serve as models for achieving water security and environmental protection, demonstrating a practical pathway to fulfilling commitments under SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 9, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article directly connects water contamination to human health, stating that ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS) “are known to pose threats to human and environmental health.” Efforts to clean water supplies are therefore linked to ensuring healthy lives.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• This is the central SDG of the article. The text focuses entirely on the contamination of EU water supplies by chemicals like PFAS, the poor ecological state of surface waters, and projects (LIFE SOuRCE, LIFE REMEMBRANCE) designed to decontaminate drinking water and improve water quality.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The article highlights the LIFE REMEMBRANCE project, which aims to create a “circular water purification model.” This is achieved by reusing “high-quality production scraps — portions of hollow fibre membranes generated during manufacturing — which are repurposed as functional components in water filters.” This directly addresses sustainable production by reducing industrial waste.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The article mentions that pollution from land-based sources like “agricultural run-off, leaking landfill sites and industrial discharge” contaminates water supplies. It also notes the high cost of cleaning up “nutrient pollution,” which is a major threat to aquatic ecosystems.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article mentions that “only 37% of Europe’s surface waters are in a healthy ecological state.” This refers to inland freshwater ecosystems, which are part of SDG 15. The sources of pollution, such as agricultural run-off and leaking landfills, also impact soil and terrestrial environments.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
  • The article’s focus on removing “hazardous chemicals,” “heavy metals, drugs and pesticides,” and especially “highly toxic” PFAS from water supplies directly supports this target by aiming to reduce human exposure to harmful contaminants.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
  • The projects LIFE SOuRCE and LIFE REMEMBRANCE are explicitly working to decontaminate drinking water. The article also references the “new EU drinking water directive,” which “includes limits on the concentration of PFAS,” a direct policy action to ensure water safety.
• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…
  • The article details the problem of water pollution from “agricultural run-off, leaking landfill sites and industrial discharge.” The projects described are developing technologies to remediate this pollution and remove contaminants, thereby improving water quality.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to… water and soil…
  • The entire article is about managing the release of hazardous chemicals (PFAS) into water. The LIFE REMEMBRANCE project also addresses the management of industrial waste (hollow fibre membranes) to prevent it from being incinerated.
• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
  • The LIFE REMEMBRANCE project is a clear example of this target in action. It “repurposed as functional components in water filters” materials that are currently “thrown away and incinerated.” This is a direct application of reuse to reduce industrial waste.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Concentration of specific pollutants in water: The article mentions the “new EU drinking water directive includes limits on the concentration of PFAS.” This concentration level is a direct, measurable indicator of water quality and safety.
• Proportion of water bodies with good ambient quality: The article states that “only 37% of Europe’s surface waters are in a healthy ecological state.” This percentage is a key indicator for measuring the overall health of water ecosystems. An increase in this percentage would signify progress.
• Amount of industrial waste reused or recycled: The LIFE REMEMBRANCE project’s success can be measured by the amount of “hollow fibre membranes” that are repurposed into new filters instead of being incinerated. This is a direct indicator of waste reduction and circular economy practices.
• Number of contaminated sites: The article mentions an “estimated 100 000 PFAS-contaminated sites across Europe.” A reduction in this number through remediation efforts, like those from the LIFE SOuRCE project, would be a clear indicator of progress.
• Cost of pollution remediation: The article puts the “cost of cleaning up nutrient pollution alone… at a staggering €75 billion a year.” A decrease in this annual cost could indicate successful prevention and mitigation of pollution.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.9: Substantially reduce illnesses from hazardous chemicals and water pollution.	Concentration of hazardous chemicals (PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides) in water supplies.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	6.1: Achieve access to safe and affordable drinking water.	Concentration of PFAS in drinking water, measured against EU directive limits.
	6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution.	Proportion of surface waters in a healthy ecological state (currently 37%). Number of PFAS-contaminated sites (currently est. 100,000).
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.4: Environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes.	Reduction in the release of PFAS and other pollutants into water.
	12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through reuse.	Amount of industrial waste (hollow fibre membranes) repurposed instead of incinerated.
SDG 14: Life Below Water	14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from land-based activities.	Annual cost of cleaning up nutrient pollution (currently €75 billion).

Source: cinea.ec.europa.eu