Overuse, mismanagement, and pollution have harmed lakes and rivers and worsened Europe’s water stress, prompting the EU to treat water scarcity as a major emergency. The EU targets a 10 percent increase in water efficiency by 2030 through water reuse in agriculture, industry, and public water supply. It limits water needs for clean industrial and digital sectors through smart planning, reduces leakage and water losses in public water supply, and strengthens water controls.