Europump Supports the Making It Happen for Water Project

It is a three-tier solution:

• A dedicated “Grass Roots” Platform representing its members at EU level in breakfast meetings at the European Parliament, stakeholder meetings at the European Commission, one-to-one meetings with key MEPs, and other relevant sessions (e.g. Green Week 2012 on water).
• A common Platform creating, where required and in liaison with Orgalime, common positions on legislative issues.
• An online Platform to demonstrate the equipment supply industry’s solutions to the water challenges. For each identified water challenge, information will be provided on appropriate technical solutions provided by the associations and using case studies from companies.

The EU has nominated 2012 as the “Year of Water”. This reflects increasing concerns about the scarcity of drinking water, high levels of leakage in public water supply networks and irrigation; water wastage in households, commercial buildings and industry, and the volume of wastewater which remains untreated. New legislation targeted at conserving and treating water is inevitable. In fact, there are at least 18 laws targeted at the water supply sector and some are being revised. It is important therefore that the pump industry engages actively with the legislators and regulators during the framing of this legislation. This will help ensure the new laws are appropriate, effective and do not place an unnecessary burden on us.

To assist in developing the dialogue with the EU, Orgalime Bridgehead, the Services to Sectors Department of Orgalime, is creating a “Making it Happen for Water” Platform. With its unrivalled “inside knowledge” and contacts at all levels of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament, Orgalime Bridgehead can help promote and foster contacts between the EU and the water supply sector and its trade associations whilst ensuring the best interests of the sector are protected.

“We have decided to support the Orgalime Bridgehead project “Making it Happen for Water” says Dr Sönke Brodersen, Europump President. “We know that water and pumps are natural partners and think that this link should be made obvious to EU decision-makers. Water is a key resource for society and the economy and the European Pump Industry has a major role to play in this area. As a Platform open to associations and companies, it will be an excellent tool to ensure that the equipment supply industry is included on the Brussels water agenda.”

Picture: Dr Sönke Brodersen (Image: Europump)