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AquaPath!–!Module!2!!

WATER!SUSTAINABILITY!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 2!

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INTRODUCTION''!Water%plays%a%critical% role% in%sustainable%development%and% is% related% to%numerous%global%issues% such% as% poverty% reduction,% health% and% sanitation,% inequalities% and% degradation% of%ecosystems.% This% being% said,% water% sustainability% could% appear,% at% first,% as% an% irrelevant%concern:%isn’t%our%planet’s%surface%composed%of%75%%of%water%after%all?!!Whereas% this% is% true,% module% 1%already%mentioned% that%97,5%%of%Earth’s% water% volume% (1,4%billion%km3)%is%contained%in%oceans%and% seas.%The% rest% is% freshwater%but% around% 70%% of% it% remains%locked% in% permanent% snow% cover%and% in% ice% caps% in% the% Antarctic%and%Arctic%regions.%What’s%left%lies%mostly% in% soil%moisture%and%deep%aquifers%[1]:%only%a%small%proportion%(in%fact,%less%than%1%)%can%thus%be%exploited% for% our% production% and%consumption%(Fig.%1).!!!

Figure'1.'Composition%of%the%world’s%water.!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!layers!of!rock!or!unconsolidated!materials!(gravel,!sand,!or!silt)!that!contains!water,!definition!from!http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/aquifer!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 3!

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2.1.'WATER'SCARCITY'!In'a'nutshell!!According%to%estimations,%around%40%%of%the%world%population%is%already%affected,%at%some%point,%by%water%scarcity,%and%20%%of%the%world’s%aquifers%are%over%exploited%[2].%By%2030,%the%world%may%face%a%40%%water%deficit% [3],%with%severe% impacts%on%health,%security%and%food%production,%among%others%issues.%%!!!

!Are'you'familiar'with'the'concept'of'water'scarcity?'!The% definition% itself%may% vary% from%one% organisation% to% another.%According% to% the%United%Nations,%water%scarcity%occurs%when%an%area’s%water%supplies%fall%below%1000m3%per%capita%(i.e.%per%person)%per%year%[4].%The%water%footprint%concept%takes%a%rather%different%approach:%it%measures% the% blue% water% footprint% (see% module% 1)% after% considering% environmental% flow%requirements:%freshwater%ecosystems%degrade%when%these%requirements%are%not%met%over%time% [5].% According% to% the%Water% Footprint% network,%more% than% 2.7% billion% people%may% be%affected%by%water%scarcity%at%least%for%a%month%per%year%[6].!But%let’s%forget%definitions%for%now%and%put%things%more%simply:%water%scarcity%is%mainly%the%result%of%limited%resources%confronted%with%fast%increasing%needs.!!Why'do'our'water'needs'increase?!Depletion% of% water% resources% considerably% accelerated% with% demographic% growth:% from%around%3%billion%people%in%the%1950s,%the%population%is%now%over%7%billion%and%could%reach%9,5%billion%by%2050.%In%parallel,%the%world’s%GDP%[7]%grew%at%a%rate%of%3,5%%per%year%between%1960%and%2012%[8],%leading%to%substantial%increase%in%water%needs.%Below%are%highlighted%some%of%the%main%factors:%!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!2!Gleeson,!t.,!Wada,!Y.,!bierkens,!M.f.P.!and!van!beek,!l.P.H.!2012.!Water!balance!of!global!aquifers!revealed!by!groundwater!footprint.!Nature,!488:!197P200,!doi:10.1038/nature11295.!3!2030!WrG!(2030!Water!resources!Group).!2009.!Charting!our!water!future:!Economic!frameworks!to!inform!decisionPmaking.!4!UN!website,!http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml!5!http://waterfootprint.org/en/waterPfootprint/waterPfootprintPassessment/!6!http://waterfootprint.org/en/waterPfootprint/whatPisPwaterPfootprint/!7!Gross!Domestic!Product!8!World!economics,!2014.!World!Economics:!Global!Growth!Tracker.!http://www.worldeconomics.com/papers/Global%20Growth%20Monitor_7c66ffcaPff86P4e4cP979dP7c5d7a22ef21.paper!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 4!

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[% Agricultural'water'consumption%is%expected%to%raise%by%19%%by%2050%[9],%with%food%demand% increasing% by% 60%,% 100%% in% developing% countries% [10].% Agriculture% was%responsible% for% over% 53%% of% the% global%Water% Footprint% (WF)% of% production% (see%module%3)%during%the%period%1996[2005%[11].!!

[% Urban'areas,%which%could%harbour%more%than%6,3%billion%people%in%2050%(3,9%billion%in%2014)%[12],%are%developing%at%unprecedented%rates:%every%second%the%world’s%urban%population%grows%by%two%people% [13].%To%cover%their%water%needs,%cities%have%to%dig%deeper%or%go%further,%or/and%rely%on%innovative%solutions.!!

[% From% 1973% to% 2010,% the%world' energy' consumption% increased% by% 186%,% and%demand%could%raise%by%a%further%35%%by%2035,%70%%for%electricity%alone%[14].%The%WF%of%electricity%and%heat%consumption%is%estimated%at%378%billion%m3%per%year.%!

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!Did'you'know?...'our'diet'is'critical'to'water'sustainability!!The%water%we%use%for%our%daily%needs%accounts%only%for%a%small%part%of%global%water%footprint,%which%is%mainly%related%to%agriculture%and%irrigation.%But'we'still'have'a'high'influence'on' this'matter!%Our% diet,% in% particular,% is% critical% to%water% sustainability:%producing% our% daily% food% requires% no% less% than% 2000% to% 5000% litres,% 3000% litres% on%average15.%%Whereas%meat%consumption%is%expected%to%rise%from%37kg%per%person%per%year%in%2000%to%52kg%by%203016,!we%should%know%that%producing%a%kilo%of%beef%requires%15000%litres%of%water,%ten%times%more%than%a%kilo%of%grain%(learn%more%in%module%4!).!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!9!FAO,!from!UNWATER!website!10!Alexandratos,!n.!and!Bruinsma,!J.,!2012.!World!agriculture!towards!2030/2050:!The!2012!revision.!11!http://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/HoekstraPMekonnenP2012PWaterFootprintPofPHumanity.pdf!12!UN,!2012,!World!Water!Assessment!Report!13!UN!Habitat,!2011.!World!Water!Day!2011:!Water!and!urbanization.!Water!for!Cities:!Responding!to!the!urban!challenge.!14!IEA!2012,!World!Energy!Outlook!15!FAO,!from!UNWATER!website!16!FAO,!from!UNWATER!website!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 5!

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!Figure'2.'Water%stress%per%area.%[17]%%!

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This% map% is% drawn% from% the%World%Resources%Institute,%which%definition% of% water% stress%depends% on% the% ratio% of%withdrawals% against% supply.% A%ratio%above%80%%(dark%red%on%the%map)% indicates% extremely( high(stress,% a% ratio% between% 60% and%80%%(red)% indicates%high(stress,%and% so% on18.! This% not% only%demonstrates% that% water% is% a%concern%for%Europe,%but%also%that%the% issue% should% be% considered%at%regional%and%local%levels.!!

2.2.'WATER'POLLUTION'!

!In'a'nutshell!!Demographic%growth,%urbanisation%and%economic%development% led%to%unsustainable%pressure%on%and%pollution%of%water%resources.%Every%day,%no%less%than%2%million%tons%of%human%waste% are% disposed%of% into%water% course% [19].% This%widespread%pollution% has%damaging%effects%on%the%environment%and%is%also%a%growing%risk%for%human%health.!%!!

!Water%pollution%directly%relates%to%the%grey%water%footprint,%which%accounted%for%around%a%fifth%of%the%total%water%footprint%of%production%(see%module%3)%during%the%period%1996[2005,%at%1378%billion%m3%of%water%[20].%Once%the%level%of%pollution%in%the%water%crosses%a%certain%threshold,%this%water%is%no%longer%fit%to%sustain%human%and%ecosystems’%needs.!!'Why'are'freshwater'resources'getting'more'polluted?!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!17!WRI,!from!http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/12/world%E2%80%99sP36PmostPwaterPstressedPcountries!18!WRI,!from!http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/12/world%E2%80%99sP36PmostPwaterPstressedPcountries!!19!UNESCO,!2014,!World!Water!Assessment!Programme!20!http://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/HoekstraPMekonnenP2012PWaterFootprintPofPHumanity.pdf!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 6!

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Drivers% for%water%pollution%are%numerous%and%can%be%compared% to% those%cited%above% for%increasing%water%needs.!Demographic!growth%is%creating%pressures%in%terms%of%sanitation%and%waste:%over%a%billion%people%still%defecate%in%the%open,%and%faecal%contaminated%water%is%drunk%by%at%least%1,8%billion%people%across%the%planet%[21].%With%their%rapid%development,%cities%face%difficulties%in%investing%in%adequate%infrastructures.%Over%80%%of%wastewater%worldwide%is%not%collected%or%treated%[22].!!The%food!sector%contributes%to%40%%and%54%%to%the%production%of%organic%water%pollutants%in%high[income%and%low[income%countries,%respectively%[23].%A%number%of%heavy!industry%are%rejecting% pollutants% such% as% mercury,% nitrates,% phosphates,% petrochemicals,% etc.,% and%approximately%15[18%billion%m3%of% freshwater% resources%are%contaminated%by% fossil! fuels!extraction%every%year%[24].%!!!

!Figure'3.%Sources%of%water%pollution.%[25]!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!21!WHO!UNICEF!Joint!Monitoring!Programme!for!Water!Supply!and!Sanitation!P!from!UNWATER!website!22!UNESCO,!2014,!Water!World!Development!Report!23!UNEP,!2007!Global!environment!outlook!4,!available!at!http://www.unep.org/geo/GEO4/report/GEOP4_Report_Full_en.pdf!24!UNESCO,!2014,!Water!World!Development!Report!25!From!Filterwater.com!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 7!

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!Learn'some'more:!

•% http://www.water[pollution.org.uk/%!!

!Water%pollution%has%considerable%impacts%on%the%environment.%The%services%ecosystems%can%provide% across% the% planet% have% deteriorated% [26].% Half% of% the% world’s% wetlands% (wetlands%include% rivers,% streams,% swamps,% lakes,% estuaries,% etc.)% have% already% disappeared% since%1900%[27].%By%2050,%at%least%20%%more%lakes%will%be%affected%by%harmful%algae%bloom%[28].%This%pollution%also% impacts%us% in%a%number%of%ways% [29],% leading% to%disease%outbreaks%such%as%diarrhoea% [30]%or%cholera%(cholera%cases% increased%by%130%%from%2000%to%2010% [31]),%along%other%health%issues%(intoxication,%cancers,%etc.).%According%to%the%World%Health%Organisation,%a%few%million%deaths%could%be%related%to%unsafe%sanitation,%water%and%hygiene%each%year%[32].%!!

!Desalination'plants,'a'solution?'!!There% are% currently% 16% thousand% desalination% plants% in% operation% worldwidec% the%process,%however,%remains%very%energy%intensive%and%is%mostly%used%in%the%Gulf%Region,%which%lacks%freshwater%but%has%tremendous%oil%and%gas%reserves.%This%is%done%at%the%cost%of%important%greenhouse%gases%emissions,%the%main%driver%for%climate%change.%!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!26!Costanza,!r.,!de!Groot,!r.,!sutton,!P.,!van!der!Ploeg,!s.,!anderson,!s.J.,!Kubiszewski,!i.,!farber,!s.!and!turner,!r.K.!2014.!Changes!in!the!global!value!of!ecosystem!services.!Global!Environmental!Change,!26:!152P158.!27!UNESCO,!2014,!World!Water!Assessment!Programme!28!UNDESA!(UN!department!of!economic!and!social!affairs),!2012.!Back!to!our!Common!Future:!Sustainable!Development!29!From!http://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/water/!30!WHO!UNICEF!Joint!Monitoring!Programme!for!Water!Supply!and!Sanitation,!2013!P!from!UNWATER!website!31!UNESCO,!2012,!Water!World!Development!Report!32!From!http://www.who.int/heli/risks/water/water/en/!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 8!

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2.3.'WATER'EQUITY'!

!In'a'nutshell'!!Freshwater%resources%are%unequally%shared%and%strong%disparities%exist%at%consumption%level.%Water%scarcity%and%pollution%are%impacting%some%populations%more%than%others,%often% affecting% the%most% vulnerable.% These% inequities,% reinforced% by% climate% change,%already%led%to%social%and%political%tensions.!!!!

!In%terms%of%resource%available,%and%if%we%exclude%any%consideration%for%water%pollution,%more%than% 60%% of% all% natural% and% renewable% freshwater% resources% are% located% within% the%boundaries%of%only%nine%countries,%including%giants%such%as%Brazil,%Russia,%China,%Canada%and%the%US%[33].%From%a%consumption%perspective,%the%average%European%consumer%has%a%water%footprint%of%5130%liters%per%year,%close%to%five%times%more%than%a%Chinese%[34]%and%far%above%any%African%[35].%The%map%below%shows%the%global%water%footprint%per%area%and%shows%that%Europe% and%North%America% are% competing%with% the%most% densely% populated% regions%(East%China,%India,%South[East%Asia).!!

!Figure'4.'Humanity’s%total%water%footprint.!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!33!http://www.cieau.com/lesPressourcesPenPeau/dansPlePmonde/ressourcesPenPeauPmonde.!!34!http://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/ReportP48PWaterFootprintPAnimalProductsPVol1.pdf!!35http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Rapport%20sur%20l'empreinte%20%C3%A9cologique%20de%20l'Afrique%20P%20Infrastructure%20vertes%20pour%20la%20s%C3%A9curit%C3%A9%20%C3%A9cologique%20en%20Afrique.pdf!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 9!

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In%terms%of%access%to%drinkable%water,%more%than%a%third%of%the%global%population%is%suffering%from%deprivation,%a%rate%rising%to%over%40%%in%countries%such%as%Chad,%Ethiopia,%Mauritania,%Afghanistan%or%Cambodia.%This%particularly%impacts%women%and%children,%often%in%charge%of%collecting% water% [36].% In% Sub[Saharan% Africa,% only% 60%% of% the% population% had% access% to%improved%drinkable%water%in%2008%[37].!!As%a%result%of%these%inequities,%frictions%between%sectors%and%countries%over%the%use%of%water%already%appeared%[38],%even%in%Europe.%In%July%2015,%Swiss%helicopters%crossed%the%French%borders%without%authorisation,%to%collect%water%from%a%local%lake%for%their%livestock.%This%need%was%created%by%an%unusual%heatwave,%a%phenomenon%which%could%get%more% intense%and%recurrent%with%climate%change%[39].%%!!

2.4'PERSPECTIVES:'MOVING'TOWARDS'SUSTAINABILITY?'!!In'a'nutshell:%while%the%impacts%of%climate%change%will%reinforce%the%issues%previously%described% in% this% module,% water% sustainability% can% still% be% promoted% through% higher%efficiency%in%the%use%of%the%resource%and%behaviour%change%at%consumers%level.%!!

!Are'you'aware'that'climate'change'is'impacting'water'resources?!!Climate%change%is%mainly%the%results%of%increasing%anthropic%greenhouse%gases%emissions.%It%is%accelerating%and%already%has%severe%impacts%on%freshwater%availability:!•% Sea%level%rise%affects%coastal%sources%of%drinkable%water%through%saline%intrusionc!•% Rainfall%patterns%change%and%become%more%erraticc!•% Glaciers%melting%in%all%mountainous%region%will%affect%surface%water%availabilityc!•% More%intense%heatwaves%and%extreme%climatic%events%are%to%be%expected%[40]c!•% Climate%change%has%significant%impacts%on%ecosystems%that%provide%essential%services%

for%sustaining%water%reserves,%such%as%wetlandsc!•% Climate%change%will%reinforce%water%inequities%and%affect%the%poor%more%stronglyc!•% People%vulnerable%to%flood%disaster%could%increase%to%2%billion%by%2050%[41].!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!36!Pickering,!a.J.!and!davis,!J.!2012.!freshwater!availability!and!Water!fetching!distance!affect!Child!Health!in!subPsaharan!africa.!37!WRI,!from!http://www.wssinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/resources/report_wash_low.pdf!!38!uneCe!(united!nations!economic!Commission!for!europe).!2011.!Second!Assessment!of!Transboundary!Rivers,!Lakes!and!Groundwaters.!!39!From:!http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/11765748/SwissPhelicopterPshocksPFrenchPlakePbathersPbyPstealingPwaterPforPthirstyPcows.html!40!UNESCO,!2012,!World!Water!Development!Report!41!UNWATER!website!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 10!

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!What'can'we'do'to'reach'water'sustainability?!!Reaching%water%sustainability%would%require%dramatic%changes%in%the%way%we%use,%manage%and%share%the%resource.%!!In% the%agricultural% sector,% rain% fed%systems% remain%predominant%and%significant%efficiency%improvement%could%be%reached% [42].%As'consumers,'we'should'work'towards'reducing'wastage' as% about% a% third% of% the% global% food% production% is% wasted% or% lost% annually:% the%equivalent,%in%2011,%of%1,3%billion%tons%of%food.%Citizens%of%Europe%and%North%America%waste%on%average%95%to%115%kg%per%year,%far%more%than%in%Asia%or%Africa%[43].%We%should%also%try%to%adapt'our'diet,%as%indicated%earlier%and%as%stressed%in%Module%4.%!!In%the%energy%sector,%it%is%critical%that%we%move%towards%less%water%intensive%sources%of%energy%and% that% as% consumers' we'minimise' energy' wastage' and' use.% In% cities,% the% lack% of%financial% and% technical% means% to% invest% in% infrastructure% is% a% concern,% particularly% in%developing%countries%(827,6%million%people%live%in%slums%[44]).%European%cities%tend%to%be%water%intensive%and%mostly%inefficient%in%the%way%they%use%the%resource%(above%50%%loss%in%public%networks%in%certain%cases)%[45].%You'can'put'pressure'on'your'local'authority'and'make'sure'it'considers'this'issue'seriously!!!Did'you'know?'…'Europe'is'working'towards'water'sustainability'[46]!!The%European%Union%aims%to%cut%back%water%abstraction%at%maximum%20%%of%available%renewable%water% resources,%according% to% the%EU%Roadmap% to%a%Resource%Efficient%Europe.%Water% use% in% the% agricultural% sector% may% significantly% be% impacted% by% the%reform%of%the%EU%Common%Agricultural%Policy%adopted%for%the%post[2013%era%[47].!!

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We'are'at'the'centre'of'the'solution!!!!While%international%action%is%necessary%and%welcome%to%improve%water%use%efficiency,%what%we%do,%as%European%citizens,%has%strong%influence%on%the%success%of%any%policy.%Our%water%

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!42!Optimal!management!!in!this!sector!could!also!have!additional!effects!on!land!quality:!around!10%!of!the!world’s!irrigated!lands!are!subject!to!waterlogging!!and!salinization!due!to!poor!drainage!(UNESCO)!43!FAO,!from!UNWATER!website!44!Source!:!http://whatPwhenPhow.com/climatePchange/mitigationPclimatePchangePwaterPandPwastewaterPinPcities!45!From!http://whatPwhenPhow.com/climatePchange/mitigationPclimatePchangePwaterPandPwastewaterPinPcities/!46!UN,!2014,!World!Water!Development!Report!47!eCa!(european!Court!of!auditors),!2014.!Integration!of!EU!water!policy!objectives!with!the!CAP:!A!partial!success.!

Module'II'–'Water'Sustainability!

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!This%project%has%been% funded%with%support% from% the%European%Commission.%This%publication%reflects%the%views%only%of%the%author,%and%the%Commission%cannot%be%held%responsible%for%any%use%which%may%be%made%of%the%information%contained%therein! 11!

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footprint%is%high%and%has%considerable%impacts%here%and%abroad%where%most%of%our%products%and%food%come%from.%Go%and%consult%our%next%modules!%They%will%guide%you%through%more%sustainable%behaviours.!!