On October 7, the latest KnowNow Webinar, titled “Drying Pipes: Navigating the Impact of Water Scarcity and Droughts on Water Supply,” tackled the urgent issue of water scarcity in Europe.

Moderator Raimund Mair from the World Bank introduced Olivia Becher from the University of Oxford, who presented findings from the Danube Water Program on drought risks and adaptation strategies.

Becher’s team analyzed data from the past two decades, highlighting the increasing threat of droughts to water utilities in the Danube region. They developed climate change scenarios to evaluate water supply strategies, emphasizing the importance of leakage reduction and other measures such as extending water storage capacities and desalination.

Dr. Efthymios Lytras from EYDAP discussed Athens’ efforts to secure alternative water sources, including extending supply networks and activating emergency boreholes and reservoirs. EYDAP is also investing in smart metering and reducing water losses to address the city’s water deficit.

Daniel Craia from Aquatim S.A. shared how Timisoara is managing increased water consumption and droughts. Aquatim is educating consumers on responsible water use and implementing smart metering to reduce water losses and combat water theft.

The webinar underscored the need for utilities to prioritize and scale up responses to water stress and droughts, combining data-driven strategies with practical measures to ensure continuous water supply.

For a full summary, presentations and recording, visit the event's page under the link below.