Copernicus Services for Water Management: Bridging Gaps for a Water-Smart Society

Water is the essence of life, and effective management of this precious resource is increasingly crucial in the face of climate change. Copernicus services play a pivotal role in understanding and managing water and have the potential to significantly contribute to European policy goals, including Sustainable Development Goals, climate adaptation, and economic resilience.

However, gaps in its portfolio hinder our global understanding of the water cycle. Recognising this, the EU-Funded Water-ForCE project has identified key bottlenecks and proposed pathways for improvement in the recently published Roadmap. 

Importance of Copernicus Services in Climate and Economic Resilience:

Monitoring water resources is not just an investment but a critical safeguard against climate change hazards. Copernicus Services have a major positive impact on various economic sectors, ranging from reducing casualties in natural disasters, reducing areas burnt by wildfires through better civil protection responses, and strengthening the collaboration between states at a global scale for civil protection. As the Copernicus Market Report 2019 shows, this investment translated into significant economic benefits between EUR 16.2 and 21.3 billion (excluding non-monetary benefits).

Despite these benefits, the economic impact of Copernicus on the Earth Observation (EO) water market remains undefined. Some bottlenecks are blocking, insufficient or missing processes, products or technologies that need to be resolved to achieve the desired impact.

Water-ForCE Roadmap: A Blueprint for Progress

Gathering the internal expertise of 20 partners and by engaging over 800 current and potential users and stakeholders, The Water-ForCE project, a three-year study, provides a comprehensive roadmap for the evolution of Copernicus in water management. Engaging stakeholders and assessing current services offers insights and recommendations to maximise Copernicus’ benefits.

Learn more about the roadmap

The roadmap outlines four scenarios for the future development of Copernicus in water management:

1. Business as Usual: Continuation along the current trajectory, maintaining the six operational services with dispersed water-related products.
2. Water Thematic Hub: Establishment of a centralised hub to consolidate water-related services and increase visibility.
3. Water as a Virtual Service: Creation of a virtual service to coordinate all water-related activities and establish a dedicated in situ component for data collection.
4. Water as a Copernicus Core Service: Formation of a dedicated Copernicus Water Service, with a strong political mandate and a new Entrusted Entity for comprehensive water management.

Identifying the Challenges in Copernicus Services for Water Management

The Water-ForCE project highlights several bottlenecks obstructing the effectiveness of Copernicus services:

Recommendations to Improve Copernicus Services for Water Management

Water-ForCE offers recommendations for stakeholders, including the European Commission and Member States, to overcome bottlenecks and enhance Copernicus’ role in water management.

1. The Commission to use the Roadmap and findings from Water-ForCE deliverables to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the developed scenarios.
2. EUSPA to consider the inclusion of Water as an identifiable market sector to fully comprehend the relevance of the EO water sector in Europe.
3. The Commission to assess the list of products identified with high Technology Readiness at local scale and propose measures that allow for the validation of these products at a pan-European or global scale to include them in the Copernicus portfolio.
4. The Commission to consider the wider use of EO in general and Copernicus products in particular in developing and implementing EU legislation.
5. Member States to champion the integration of EO and Copernicus products into national monitoring programmes.
6. The Commission, Member States, and the European Environment Agency to establish a task force to assess the need to start collecting critical in situ data for product calibration and validation (e.g., establishing supersites) instead of relying on seldom data often not suitable for Copernicus needs.
7. The Commission to elaborate on the scenario analysis that includes cost-benefit analyses (budgets) and political considerations.

Download the roadmap

Importance of Water-ForCE Recommendations for Public Decision-Makers

The Water-ForCE study has provided crucial insights into enhancing water management through the Copernicus programme. Identifying four strategic pathways offers tailored approaches for improving Copernicus’ efficacy in addressing water-related challenges. This study holds particular significance for public authorities, including the European Commission’s DG DEFIS, DG Environment, EUSPA, EEA, ECMWF, and national entities. It equips decision-makers with actionable strategies to address water management issues effectively, providing flexibility in implementing changes over time scales that suit their priorities and objectives.

Additional Sources

Further information on water quality monitoring and the impact of climate change on water resources can be found in the Water-ForCE project and the Water4All partnership. These sources underscore the urgency and importance of improving water management practices globally.

Featured image: Water-ForCE project team