Visit Kata Tüttő in the context of ‘Water Resilience’

The Association of Provincial Authorities and the Association of Dutch Municipalities organised the visit. It brought together various involved organisations and their representatives around the theme: the Regional Water Authority De Stichtse Rijnlanden (represented by Dijkgraaf Jeroen Haan), the Province of Utrecht (Deputy Has Bakker), and the Municipality of Nieuwegein (Alderman Marieke Schouten).

Complex Challenges for the Water Sector

In his presentation, Dijkgraaf Jeroen Haan outlined the water sector’s technical and administrative challenges in light of the European Water Framework Directive, the national policy framework ‘Water and Soil Leading’, and the regional approach. In recent weeks, the River Meuse was polluted due to discharges from a factory in Liège. This incident highlighted the urgent need for stricter European regulations, cross-border agreements, and cooperation. 

Kata Tüttő emphasised that the Committee of the Regions’ key role is to indicate what is feasible and implementable for local and regional authorities regarding EU legislation. In her view, the Netherlands could serve as a leading example. However, she expressed general concern about the slow pace of actual change: “If we know what lies ahead and the documents are on the table, then who is responsible for the next step?”

“If we know what lies ahead and the documents are on the table, then who is responsible for the next step?”
Kata Tüttő, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions and rapporteur on Water Resilience

Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration

Mariëlle van der Zouwen stressed the importance of structural, results-oriented collaboration between governments, research institutes, implementation organisations, and technology providers (often SMEs) in her address. “For decades, we have contributed our expertise to EU projects and sectoral partnerships to develop solutions for improved water resilience and help implement the results in professional water practice.”  

Mariëlle shared six key messages with Kata Tüttő and the other attendees: 

• A systems approach
  Adopt a systems approach to address complex water challenges integrally. This involves combining knowledge of water, energy, food, and ecosystems to develop sustainable, area-specific solutions that serve multiple interests.
• International dialogue and cooperation
  Promote international collaboration through joint research projects and knowledge exchange. This is vital for tackling global water challenges such as emerging substances and climate change, and is reflected in KWR’s involvement in EU-programmes Iike LIFE, HORIZON, and Interreg. 
• Flexibility
  Flexibility is essential for the water sector to respond resiliently to changing societal, technological, and ecological conditions. For example, the ‘FlexInWater’ project explores how drinking water companies can manage their infrastructure flexibly to better respond to grid congestion and energy transitions. This contributes to cost savings, sustainability, and a robust energy and water supply.
• Intergenerational actions and language
  Intergenerational dialogue helps rediscover values and responsibilities, leading to a more sustainable relationship between people and water. Through the GRROW-lab, KWR collaborates with young professionals in the water sector to develop a new language for water, among other things. 
• Digital illiteracy
  Bridging the digital divide in the water sector is crucial. Digital transformation requires knowledge of AI, the Internet of Things, and data quality. KWR provides guidance and tools to overcome digital illiteracy, improving and accelerating transitions.
• Transformative change and transition costs
  A fundamental system change in the drinking water sector requires research into transformative environmental management, focusing on cross-project collaboration, new roles such as ‘agents of change’, and insight into the societal costs of transitions.

“The more we study future scenarios, for example, using AI, the more dilemmas we encounter. In the discussion about water resilience, we must incorporate robust solutions and work on innovative concepts for the water cycle as a whole.”
Idsart Dijkstra, Knowledge Group Manager Water 

Image 1: KWR Director Mariëlle van der Zouwen emphasises that international cooperation is fundamental to knowledge development and dissemination. KWR is a WHO Collaborative Centre on Water Quality & Health and co-founder of Water Europe.

Image 2: The group photo in front of the KWR building in Nieuwegein.

Image 3: From left to right: KWR Director Mariëlle van der Zouwen, EU rapporteur Kata Tüttő and Nieuwegein Councillor Marieke Schouten.

Image 4: Mariëlle van der Zouwen (1) in conversation with Kata Tüttő.

Image 5: Idsart Dijkstra, Knowledge Group Manager Water at KWR, explains the green hydrogen production station to Kata Tüttő, Chair of the EU Committee of the Regions. The production station supplies construction company Jos Scholman in Nieuwegein with sustainable fuel for all its vehicles.

Kata Tüttő’s visit underscored the EU’s strong commitment to water resilience. KWR demonstrated that it actively contributes to climate-resilient water provision through various pathways – from source-based approaches and governance to awareness and international cooperation. Through the research projects mentioned above, we underline our role as a connector between science and practice in the Netherlands and Flanders and as a knowledge partner in Europe.