Protecting water in Luxembourg: why and why not? which?

A precious resource... but vulnerable

Water is the basis of all life. We ourselves are made of water, and our lives and health depend on it. It grows our vegetables, flows through our rivers and feeds our homes. It irrigates our fields, cools our summers and sustains our ecosystems. Yet today, this precious resource is under pressure. At first glance, you might think that Luxembourg is a country rich in water. But the reality is very different.Our rivers are often small, with low flows, and therefore particularly vulnerable to pollution and periods of drought. And while drinking water remains of excellent quality, water resources - rivers, groundwater, lakes - are suffering the cumulative consequences of our lifestyles.

Visible progress, but efforts to be continued

In Luxembourg, no surface water body has achieved good ecological statusas defined by the water framework directive (directive 2000/60/EC). And this does not reflect a lack of effort - on the contrary, significant progress has been made over the years: modernization of wastewater treatment plants, reduction of point-source pollution, renaturation of certain watercourses...

But the situation remains fragileThe causes of this deterioration are manifold:

- excess of nutrients and pesticides from agriculture and other sources,
– pollution industrial and domestic,
– artificialization of the soil,
- effects of climate change,
- pressures related to population growth and theurbanization fast.

In the long term, water availability could be affected. A river that is artificialized or overloaded with nutrients loses biodiversity, oxygen and beauty. Just as water follows a continuous cycle and forms the basis of our existence, our well-being is intimately linked to the health of water resources, and this ultimately affects us all.

One water - Mir si Waasser :

A national campaign to change our relationship with water

Supported in collaboration byWater Management Administration (AGE) and Citizens for Ecological Learning and Living asbl (CELL)This national campaign is part of a long-term effort to changing our relationship with water. Its objective : reconnect us to water, this vital common good, and give everyone the means to understand, act and support change.

To do so, CELL met and interviewed theAGEto better understand the current situation, the progress made, the difficulties encountered and, above all, the levers for action.

What we can learn from it: current situation and challenges

Water in Luxembourg is governed by the Water Framework Directive, which is very demanding. She distinguished :

- the state ecological and chemical surface water (rivers, lakes),

- and the quantitative and qualitative groundwater.

Despite our best efforts, no surface water body has yet achieved "good status". required. This does not mean that nothing has been done. On the contrary:

"However, assessing the state of water is not based on a single isolated parameter. It is the combination of numerous indicators that provides a complete and accurate picture of water quality. For example, if just one indicator falls below the threshold, the entire body of water is considered to be at risk.This is a very demanding task, but one that pushes us to a higher level. It's very demanding, but it pushes you to a new level.he global, shared vision. - Anne-Marie Reckinger, Deputy Director of Water Management Administration.

Population growth, urban development and agricultural pressures make the task even more complex. In addition, climate change impacts make water systems more vulnerable irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, rising water temperatures in rivers...

"Our rivers are small, with low flows. A little pollution can have a big impact.

 

Three key levers for moving forward together

The campaign One water - Mir si Waasser is based on three pillars:

1. Use water more efficiently

In Luxembourg, households alone account for 60% of drinking water consumption. It shows that each and every one of us can make a real impact.

"We're not talking about depriving ourselves, but about optimizing usage and avoiding waste."

Optimizing water use means :

– Reduce wastage in everyday life (e.g. leaks, taps turned on unnecessarily, incorrectly set appliances);

– Reuse rainwater for certain activities;

– Adopting the right reflexes in times of drought - such as reducing non-essential uses or delaying watering - becomes essential in the face of their increasing frequency.

Each individual gesture is an act of solidarity towards the health of our ecosystem and future generations. (find out more about the campaign " Zesumme fir eist Waasser"  carried out by the EGM in 2022).

2. Giving rivers back their freedom

For a long time, we wanted to controlling watercourses These include channelizing rivers, stabilizing banks and building near minor river beds. But today, these practices are showing their limits: biodiversity is declining, the risk of flooding is increasing, and the ability of rivers to regulate themselves is diminishing.

"The river needs space to maintain its ecological balance. Giving it back space means strengthening our resilience."

There are solutions:

1. Renaturation waterways: for living, resilient aquatic environments ;

2. Remove obstacles unnecessary objects in watercourses that impede the free movement of water and the aquatic species that live there, such as fish;

3. Greening the surrounding area to slow the flow of pollutants into rivers;

4. Integrating water retention in urban planning projects.

And it works: where nature reclaims its rights, ecosystems recover, flooding subsides and water quality improves.

3. Reduce pollution

Today, thanks to advances in laboratory analysis, we can detect substances in water in minute quantities - sometimes at concentrations a thousand times lower than ten years ago.

But measuring is not enough: you have to get to the root of the problem.

"Many of these pollutants are difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate once present in the natural environment. The most effective way is to prevent them from entering."

This includes :

• A reducing pesticide use ;
• A better supervision and regulation of industrial effluents;
• A increased vigilance on everyday products The presence of microplastics in cosmetics and other products, the correct disposal of medicines that should not be thrown down the sink...

But it also requires tools: clear labelling, labels, filters, training and legislation. And a collective change of attitudeat all levels of society.

A shared responsibility

The message is clear:

"Protecting water means protecting ourselves. Sustainable management of this precious resource can only be based on a shared commitment between authorities, citizens and key sectors. It is together, by linking our efforts, that we will see real improvements. " – Marc HansDirector, Water Management Administration

That's what this campaign is all about: remind everyone can contribute in their own way, but only the commitment of all will bring about real change.

• Visit farmers can adjust their practices to limit chemical inputs.
• Visit municipalities can free up space around watercourses to allow them to return to their natural beds.
• Visit manufacturers can reduce pollutants at source.
• Visit citizens can avoid certain cosmetic products, take unused medicines back to the pharmacy and avoid wasting water at home.
• Visit public authoritiesLast but not least, they can encourage sustainable practices, facilitate renaturation and raise awareness on a wider scale.

All in all, protecting water is a collective concern. Each and every one of us can support the efforts underway - and help build a more resilient future.

Why now?

Visit 2027In theory, EU member states should have achieved the objectives of the Water Framework Directive by the end of the year. For Luxembourg, this won't be possible everywhere - but every step forward is important. "If we can't achieve good status everywhere, we must at least define the most ambitious objective we can achieve, and commit to it sincerely".says theAGE team.

Now is also the time for citizens to make their voices heard.

An inclusive, participatory campaign

This campaign is part of a transparent and evolving process. At the end of the year, a public consultation will be held to define the priorities of the next water management plan. This year and last'next yearIn this context, particular attention is paid to citizen participation: open up the debate to everyone, not just experts, to make water management a truly collective process. The consultation will be available on the Zesumme Vereinfachen.

In addition, the campaign invites you to :

• Find out more through educational content ;
• Getting involved : with practical advice and simple gestures to adopt ;
• Participate a public consultation will be held at the end of the year to help define the major water management issues facing Luxembourg.

And in concrete terms?

On the AGE and CELL networks, in the weeks and months to come, you'll find :

- practical advice on how to use water more efficiently on a daily basis;

- educational and inspiring videos ;

- portraits of committed players ;

- resources for a better understanding of water management issues in Luxembourg.

Towards a water culture

This campaign is not just about providing information - it's about creating a water culture. A culture in which water is no longer seen as an unlimited, free resource, but as a common, fragile and precious good, to be protected as best we can.

It invites us to recognize the value of water in our daily lives, to better understand the link between our choices (food, clothing, urban planning) and the health of our rivers and groundwater. And to actively support public renaturation policies, even when this means leaving more space for nature, making spaces available for renaturation or rethinking certain land uses.

Let's act together and make water a common priority.

Protecting water resources means protecting what connects us. It's about building a healthier, more resilient, more vibrant region. It's about choosing a future that respects nature and those who live in it.

To find out more :

https://eau.gouvernement.lu/fr.html

https://www.instagram.com/cell_luxembourg/