War, corruption, and poverty have plagued Afghanistan for generations.
These have generally led to a myriad of exacerbating issues like a lack of healthcare infrastructure, education, and political unification.
Agriculture is Afghanistan’s economic foundation — according to the CIA World Factbook, it composes approximately 23% of the country’s GDP.
To contrast, agriculture makes up 0.9% of the United States’s GDP.
20 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces have felt the brunt of this drought, and millions of Afghan people have been devastated by its effects.
According to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Emergency Response Mechanism, Particularly hard hit are the provinces of Ghor and Badghis, who have generated displacement of over 9,000 households into Herat City, and approx.
The vast majority of these households remain unassisted, lacking access to safe drinking water, shelter or adequate sanitation facilities and food, and as a result, sinking into increased vulnerability; sinking into increasing levels of vulnerability and employing negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals and using money lenders to feed their families.” Some countries are pitching in to help — the U.K. recently donated $13.1 million to The World Food Programme, who aims to provide aid in the areas worst affected by the drought.
They plan to reach and contribute to 1.4 million people, not only providing them with basic supplies but enabling them to have a more successful harvest next year.
A short-term fix may be welcome, but a more effective, long-term solution includes a level of sustainment that will last longer than just a few months.
This is particularly important not only for the families themselves, but to mitigate all the issues involved in mass-migration into major population centers.

New measures to facilitate non-potable wastewater reuse for agricultural irrigation will alleviate water scarcity concerns, the European Commission has announced.
The new regulations allowing non-potable wastewater reuse will create a sustainable supply of water for agricultural irrigation, while also protecting the environment and consumers, and avoiding the ongoing concerns posed by water scarcity.
Because of changing weather conditions, global warming and other factors, water scarcity is a growing concern, particularly affected by unpredictable weather patterns and severe droughts.
Further, one third of land in the EU is affected by water stress all year round, meaning that demand outpaces supply.
The commission estimates that water reuse in the EU today is far below its potential, despite being more cost-efficient and causing less environmental impact than extracting and transporting fresh water.
What measures have been proposed?
How will the proposal impact the EU water sector?
European Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella, hailed the new commission proposal as a vital effort to reduce the environmental consequences caused by the water industry in Europe.
Vella said: “This proposal will create only winners – our farmers will have access to a sustainable supply for irrigation water, our consumers will know the products they eat are safe, and our businesses will see new opportunities.
The biggest winner of them all will be our environment as the proposal contributes to better management of our most precious resource – water.”

Revised European legislation proposed by the European Commission on Thursday will improve the quality of drinking water and access to it as well as provide better information to citizens.
The right to access essential services of good quality, including water, is one of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights unanimously endorsed by Heads of State or Government at the Gothenburg Summit.
This will be contributing to the environmental goals of reducing unnecessary plastic use and limiting the EU’s carbon footprint, as well as to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thanks to increased transparency it will also empower consumers and push them towards more sustainable choices, for example using tap water.” Most people living in the EU enjoy very good access to high quality drinking water.
This results from long standing EU legislation protecting Europeans ensuring that they have access to high quality drinking water.
These additions take account of the latest scientific knowledge and recommendations of the World Health Organisation.
Another important change in the legislation will give the public easy, user-friendly – including online – access to information about the quality and supply of drinking water in their living area, improving confidence in tap water.
With improved confidence in tap water, citizens can also contribute to reducing plastic waste from bottled water, including marine litter.
Better management of drinking water from Member States will avoid unnecessary loss of water and contribute to lowering the CO2 footprint.
The new risk-based approach to safety will help to carry out safety checks in a more targeted manner where risks are higher.

Revised European legislation proposed by the European Commission on Thursday will improve the quality of drinking water and access to it as well as provide better information to citizens. The right to access essential services of good quality, including water, is one of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights unanimously endorsed by Heads of State or Government at the Gothenburg Summit. Thursday’s legislative proposal aims to guarantee this right and thereby responds to the first-ever successful European Citizens’ Initiative, “Right2Water”, that gathered 1.6 million signatures in support of improving access to safe drinking water for all Europeans. In addition this proposal seeks to empower consumers ensuring that water suppliers provide consumers with clearer information on water consumption, on the cost structure as well as on the price per litre allowing a comparison with the price of bottled water. This will be contributing to the environmental goals of reducing unnecessary plastic use and limiting the EU’s carbon footprint, as well as to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said, “Citizens have made their voice loud and clear through the European Citizens’ Initiative, calling for action to have a guaranteed access to safe drinking water. We have heard and heeded their call and carried out a thorough analysis of our existing legislation. Today we are therefore proposing to modernise our EU law, improving the quality of drinking water and increasing the access of citizens…

Questions and Answers on the revision of the Drinking Water Directive. Why is the Commission revising the Drinking Water Directive? The European Commission wants to continue to ensure the provision of high-quality drinking water in light of the latest scientific advice, and to help consumers access this water and find reliable information about its supply. Safe drinking water is essential for public health and well-being, and water contamination or shortages can have serious social and economic costs. The proposal is also a response to the successful European Citizens’ Initiative, ‘Right2Water’, which received the support of 1.6 million Europeans. What is the Commission proposing and why? There are four main new elements: 1) Improved standards for the safety of water. The list of standards will be updated and extended in line with the latest scientific knowledge and based on recommendations by the World Health Organisation. This will guarantee that tap water is safe for drinking throughout the EU. 2) A reduced risk for Member States and citizens. By applying a risk-based water safety assessment in the entire EU, authorities will be able to identify possible risks to water sources already at distribution level. It adds an additional layer of protection and at the same time better protects supply sources in the long term. 3) Obligation to improve access to water. People without or with limited access to water will benefit. Overall consumption of tap water – a cheap, safe and environmentally-friendly option – should increase. This will help consumers save money, and it is good for the environment, helping to reduce plastic waste entering our rivers and seas and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. 4) Increased transparency, including on water services. Thanks to new transparency rules consumers will get information online, in a user-friendly way, about the availability of water services in their local area. Empowered consumers are better placed to request good quality services at a fair price. In parallel, the Commission accelerated work on standardisation to ensure that construction products in the water sector across the EU’s internal market, such as pipes and tanks, do not pollute drinking water. What are the new standards to indicate the safety of water? The Commission has worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to revise the list of standards (parameters) that define safe drinking water. The new list includes 18 new or revised parameters to better protect against: pathogenic bacteria and viruses; naturally occurring but harmful substances like uranium or microcystins; emerging contaminants from industry like perfluorinated compounds; disinfection by-products or distribution impurities like chlorate, haloacetic acids, or bisphenol A. How will consumers benefit from this proposal? The revised rules will improve access to water and water quality as well as further reduce risks to health, by improving water treatment and quality monitoring. According to estimatesthe new measures would reduce potential health risks associated with drinking water from about 4% to below 1%. More transparency on water supply can compel providers to improve resource-efficiency. Consumers will have online access to information on precious nutrients present in their tap water, such…

BRUSSELS, Belguim – The European Union proposed Thursday giving millions of people in the 28-nation bloc better access to safe tap water and reduce water consumption via wasteful plastic bottles. The legislation proposed by the European Commission, the EU executive, aims to make safe drinking water a citizen right in line with social rights adopted at a summit in Gothenburg, Sweden in November. The commission was responding to a petition signed by 1.6 million people demanding better access to potable water, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said. “Today we are therefore proposing to modernise our…

Revised European legislation proposed by the European Commission today will improve the quality of drinking water and access to it as well as provide better information to citizens.
In addition this proposal seeks to empower consumers ensuring that water suppliers provide consumers with clearer information on water consumption, on the cost structure as well as on the price per litre allowing a comparison with the price of bottled water.
Today we are therefore proposing to modernise our EU law, improving the quality of drinking water and increasing the access of citizens where it matters most.
Together we can and must protect the health and safety of our citizens."
Most people living in the EU enjoy very good access to high quality drinking water.
This results from long standing EU legislation protecting Europeans ensuring that they have access to high quality drinking water.
Another important change in the legislation will give the public easy, user-friendly – including online – access to information about the quality and supply of drinking water in their living area, improving confidence in tap water.
Better management of drinking water from Member States will avoid unnecessary loss of water and contribute to lowering the CO2 footprint.
The new risk-based approach to safety will help to carry out safety checks in a more targeted manner where risks are higher.
The revision of the Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC was included in the Commission’s 2017 Work Programme, as a direct follow up to the Right2Water European Citizens’ Initiative.

Questions and Answers on the revision of the Drinking Water Directive. Why is the Commission revising the Drinking Water Directive? The European Commission wants to continue to ensure the provision of high-quality drinking water in light of the latest scientific advice, and to help consumers access this water and find reliable information about its supply. Safe drinking water is essential for public health and well-being, and water contamination or shortages can have serious social and economic costs. The proposal is also a response to the successful European Citizens’ Initiative, ‘Right2Water’, which received the support of 1.6 million Europeans. What is the Commission proposing and why? There are four main new elements: 1) Improved standards for the safety of water. The list of standards will be updated and extended in line with the latest scientific knowledge and based on recommendations by the World Health Organisation. This will guarantee that tap water is safe for drinking throughout the EU. 2) A reduced risk for Member States and citizens. By applying a risk-based water safety assessment in the entire EU, authorities will be able to identify possible risks to water sources already at distribution level. It adds an additional layer of protection and at the same time better protects supply sources in the long term. 3) Obligation to improve access to water. People without or with limited access to water will benefit. Overall consumption of tap water – a cheap, safe and environmentally-friendly option – should increase. This will help consumers save money, and it is good for the environment, helping to reduce plastic waste entering our rivers and seas and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. 4) Increased transparency, including on water services. Thanks to new transparency rules consumers will get information online, in a user-friendly way, about the availability of water services in their local area. Empowered consumers are better placed to request good quality services at a fair price. In parallel, the Commission accelerated work on standardisation to ensure that construction products in the water sector across the EU’s internal market, such as pipes and tanks, do not pollute drinking water. What are the new standards to indicate the safety of water? The Commission has worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to revise the list of standards (parameters) that define safe drinking water. The new list includes 18 new or revised parameters to better protect against: pathogenic bacteria and viruses; naturally occurring but harmful substances like uranium or microcystins; emerging contaminants from industry like perfluorinated compounds; disinfection by-products or distribution impurities like chlorate, haloacetic acids, or bisphenol A. How will consumers benefit from this proposal? The revised rules will improve access to water and water quality as well as further reduce risks to health, by improving water treatment and quality monitoring. According to estimatesthe new measures would reduce potential health risks associated with drinking water from about 4% to below 1%. More transparency on water supply can compel providers to improve resource-efficiency. Consumers will have online access to information on precious nutrients present in their tap water, such…

Even plastic waste that has been collected for recycling can find its way into the environment, says the Commission.
Currently, there is no clear incentive for consumers and producers to switch to solutions that would generate less waste or litter.
It says that additional measures at EU and national levels can be developed to reduce unnecessary generation of plastic waste, especially waste from single-use items or over-packaging, and to encourage the reuse of packaging.
What the EU calls “extended producer responsibility schemes” at national level can also help curb plastic litter.
Awareness campaigns, measures to prevent littering and projects to clean up beaches can, the Commission believes, be set up by public authorities and receive support from EU funds, for instance through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).
These and other possible ways of cutting the use of plastics, and encouraging plastics recycling, were recently unveiled in the Commission’s plastics strategy which has generated a generally favourable response.
BusinessEurope, the Brussels-based organisation that represents Europe’s business community at EU level, describes the strategy as “an important step forward in the circular economy action plan.” The strategy settles an ambitious target – by 2030, all plastics packaging placed on the EU market should be reusable or recyclable in a cost-effective manner.
More than half of plastics waste in general should be recyclable by 2030 while today it is less than 30 per cent.
BusinessEurope Director General Markus Beyrer told this website, “European industry is fully committed to shifting to a more circular Europe, but the circular economy needs to make business sense.
“We welcome the plastics strategy, which is relatively balanced between environmental and economic considerations, and the intention to look for voluntary pledges to boost recycled plastics rather than immediately jump to regulatory actions.” He went on, “We agree that any new EU measures should be in line with the better regulation principles, and that an impact assessment should be carried out when measures are likely to have a significant socio-economic impact.” But, Beyrer cautioned, “However, we would like to see more clarity on the potential EU-wide fiscal measures as well as the proposed private-led fund for financing investments for innovations and technologies.” He added, “We support the Commission’s intention to first enter into a dialogue with stakeholders on these matters.” Stakeholders have until 12 February to the ongoing public consultation on the strategy which was unveiled in Strasbourg on 16 January.

BUCHAREST (Romania), November 28 (SeeNews) – The European Commission said on Tuesday it is providing a total of 252 million euro ($301 million) to help Romania improve its road and water infrastructure.
Some 76 million euro from the European Regional Development Fund will be invested in the works to be carried out on national road E79, which crosses the country, the European Commission said in a press release.
The E79 road connects Romania with Bulgaria, Greece and Hungary.
The works will be carried out at sections of the road linking the cities of Deva, in the historical region of Transylvania in central Romania, and Oradea, at the border with Hungary.
"The road passes through the counties of Hunedoara, Arad and Bihor, before connecting with Bors town and will improve the access to the municipalities of Deva and Oradea, which will generate greater economic development and will stimulate employment and regional development in these counties," Corina Cretu, European Commissioner for regional policy, said.
Some 176 million euro from the Cohesion Fund will be invested in water management and distribution infrastructure in many urban areas in the Vrancea county, in eastern Romania.
The European-funded project will allow 66,460 inhabitants in the region to have access to quality drinking water, while some 57,440 inhabitants will benefit from a modern wastewater collection and treatment system.
"Access to quality drinking water should not be a luxury, yet this was the situation for many Romanian residents before Cohesion Policy intervened," Cretu said.
At the beginning of November, the EU provided Romania with 17 million euro to improve access to drinking water in the Constanta, Ialomita, Gorj, Ilfov and Suceava counties.
In September, the Commission provided 284 million euro to Romania to finance projects for modernisation of water infrastructure in 12 counties.