Water

Guarantee water supply

The combination of population growth, rising incomes and urbanisation is driving up global water demand. Since 1980, water withdrawal has increased by one per cent annually. Added to this are the effects of climate change. Global warming will affect the availability of water in many regions of the world. In addition, extreme weather events such as periods of heat or heavy rainfall will become more frequent and more intense - which in turn will have consequences for the water supply.

Counteracting water pollution

The problem of water supply is exacerbated in many places by the pollution of water resources. Fertilisers and pesticides pollute the groundwater. In developing countries, up to 90 per cent of wastewater from households and businesses ends up untreated in lakes, rivers and the sea (source: GreenTech made in Germany, 2018, p. 42).

The export initiative aims to help alleviate the water crisis and promote German companies that use innovative approaches to strengthen the global lead market for sustainable water management. Projects in the market segments of water extraction and treatment, water networks, wastewater treatment, wastewater processes and increasing the efficiency of water utilisation can be supported.

Clean water and access to sanitation for all are goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, almost 750 million people currently do not have access to clean water. Around 2.5 billion people have to make do without or with inadequate sanitary facilities.

Water plays a key role in nutrition, health, the environment and energy conversion. Economic developments depend on a quantitatively and qualitatively sufficient water supply. The aim of EXI is to strengthen the global lead market for sustainable water management.