On 9 December 2024, Francesco Mascolo, Vice-President of Aqua Publica Europea, contributed to the annual event, European Consumer Day 2024, titled "Water Challenges: Exploring Consumer Perspectives: Moving Ahead on the EU Blue Deal," organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels.

The event focused on addressing water-related challenges from a consumer-centric perspective. Key topics included ensuring access to water at an affordable price – particularly for vulnerable consumers – while also tackling issues of water quality and quantity. Additionally, the discussions explored ways to promote water-efficient consumption by encouraging changes in consumer habits and leveraging innovative tools and technologies to help individuals become more conscious of their water consumption and its sustainability implications.

Mascolo participated in the first panel, which was dedicated to ensuring access to water at an affordable price, particularly for vulnerable consumers. The discussion also covered the transparency of water bills and the aspects of water quality and quantity.

During his remarks, Mascolo addressed the critical issue of water affordability. He referenced established reports from respected UN bodies, such as the UN Rapporteur for the Human Right to Water and Sanitation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which argue that water affordability should be viewed not only as a ‘water issue’ but also as a broader social protection matter. According to these reports, if a household struggles to pay its water bill, it often reflects wider social vulnerabilities. Mascolo argued that addressing water affordability effectively requires general protection/redistributive measures, financed through the general budget, to address these vulnerabilities comprehensively.

While discussing approaches to tackling affordability, Mascolo noted that Aqua Publica Europea has explored effective solutions, such as a ‘water solidarity fund’. This fund, funded by a small percentage of the water bill paid by all users, helps support those in need. However, he underscored that such initiatives must be implemented in collaboration with social security departments.

Mascolo further stated that water affordability is not merely a consumer or user issue, but a societal responsibility. He stressed the role of water operators in ensuring cost-effective and long-term investments in water infrastructure. Policymakers and public authorities, on the other hand, must ensure that pollution is controlled at the source to prevent increases in water treatment costs, which would otherwise raise water bills for domestic users. He also highlighted the necessity of implementing the ‘polluter-pays’ principle, enshrined in the EU treaties, to ensure that those responsible for the pollution bear the costs of its impact on the environment.

In conclusion, Mascolo called for a holistic approach to addressing water affordability, one that includes both effective water management by operators and broader social protection measures to ensure that water remains accessible and affordable for all. He stressed that ensuring the sustainability of water services is not just the responsibility of water operators but requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society.