Data: Water prices in European countries in 2020

"Water services are essential services, but little is known about them. This is because the infrastructure is mainly underground, accessible only to a few service engineers, and also because it is sometimes situated far from urban areas and protected for obvious security reasons. But also because water services’ organisation differs from country to country due to history, cultural heritage, and national or local traditions, which result in specific regulatory frameworks", declares Dr Claudia Castell-Exner, EurEau President, in their 2020 report "The governance of water services in Europe", which showcases the most recent consolidated data at European level.

Water regulations at the EU level include the WFD (Water Framework Directive), the DWD (Drinking Water Directive), the UWWTD (Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive), and the BWD (Bathing Water Directive), and are implemented in all EU Member States' national legislation. Since 2024, at Commission level, Jessica Roswall is the first EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy.

Regarding the…