A newly published joint study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) provides a critical analysis of the accelerating pressures on water quantity. Titled “Every Drop Counts—Pathways to Restore Germany’s Water Balance,” the report highlights a structural imbalance where industrialized regions are losing more water than their ecosystems can naturally restore.
The research shows that over the past two decades, Germany alone has lost around 60 billion M3 of stored water, a volume roughly equivalent to Lake Constance. This steady depletion is driven by shifting rainfall patterns, rising evapotranspiration, and unsustainable land management practices that prevent landscapes from retaining water.
According to the authors, traditional water efficiency practices and technical supply expansions alone will not suffice to bridge this growing storage deficit. Instead, the study warns that the collective cost of inaction regarding these hydrological imbalances could reach an estimated €20–25 billion annually, or up to €625 billion cumulatively by 2050.
To counter this threat, the report outlines actionable, nature-based pathways such as Regenerative Agriculture, Forest Management, and Dynamic Drainage. These landscape-level interventions represent the most cost-effective solution, with the potential to add roughly 7 to 7.5 billion M3 of water availability annually to close the storage gap.
By tracking these major macro-trends and sharing external research, EWJI aims to keep industry professionals informed about shifting regulatory frameworks. Understanding these emerging water security parameters is essential for anticipating the future demands of sustainable water stewardship across Europe.
The full summary report, “Every Drop Counts—Pathways to Restore Germany’s Water Balance”, can be accessed directly through BCG’s Official Publication Platform