Time to see the full spectrum of water in our communities
Water is under pressure. Climate change, aging infrastructure, and rising demand are reshaping how communities access and manage this essential resource. Yet while industry data shows where systems are vulnerable or strong, public perception often lags behind – or diverges entirely. This disconnect leads to inaction at a time when decisive action is urgently needed.
The Kemira Water Index intends to close that gap. It combines a broad spectrum of expert perspectives –spanning infrastructure, governance, climate vulnerability, and investment – with public sentiment gathered through a large-scale global consumer survey. Together, these insights offer a comprehensive view of water resilience across 10 European countries and 10 US states. By comparing what extensive research tells us with what people believe and their behaviors, the Index reveals blind spots, highlights opportunities, and helps decision-makers – from utilities to policymakers – align strategy with reality. It’s a snapshot of water resilience that’s both technically grounded and socially informed. Whether you’re shaping policy, investing in infrastructure, or simply trying to understand the future of water, this report intends to offer a clear, data-driven starting point.
At a glance: Kemira Water Index 2025
14,000
respondents
11
countries*
300+
data sources studied
Creating context, driving crucial conversations
Our world relies on water. It’s a global resource with a profound local impact. While some communities are resilient, others struggle with a range of issues. Water supply, water safety, and the impact of water-related crises (e.g., drought and flooding) already significantly affect people’s lives and livelihoods.
What is water resilience?
Water resilience refers to the capacity of water systems – including natural ecosystems, infrastructure, and governance – to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from shocks or long‑term stresses without compromising the reliability, quality, or equitable availability of water.
Data that shapes new dialogue
Based on extensive research and expert input, the Kemira Water Index ranks a selection of European countries and US states to identify whose water supply is safe, who is prepared now (and ready to face the future), and who is at risk. Our goal is to provide a snapshot of a location’s resilience, including its ability to handle water-related stress and shock.
Using data from a comprehensive consumer survey, we also shed light on people’s attitudes toward water, and the role perception plays in water use, risk management, and building for the future.
Taken together, the research, survey data and actionable insights can be used to bring attention to serious water-related issues and drive crucial conversations.
* Please note that the United States is not surveyed as a whole. The data presented reflects findings from 10 selected states only.
Thank you!
We’ll send the download link to your email.
Water resilience rankings
The Kemira Water Index 2025 offers rankings of 10 European countries and 10 US states from the most to least water resilient, derived from 21 carefully selected metrics, reviewed across 300+ data sources. These rankings enable policymakers, utilities, businesses, and consumers to understand where water sources are secure, evaluate preparedness, and recognize communities at highest risk.
Top takeaways from our research & consumer survey
Discover the most important trends, findings, and insights from this year’s Kemira Water Index.
Climate event exposure varies significantly across regions. Heatwaves dominate in most countries, with 83% of Spanish respondents experiencing one last year, while Nordic countries report fewer heatwaves but more thunderstorms, highlighting uneven impacts and preparedness levels globally.
Countries with high level of freshwater withdrawal by industry, like Germany (19.2%*) and France (13.9%*), see only 12% and 13% of people saying their country is “doing well” at managing water resources. Interestingly, even countries with low industrial water use, such as Denmark (1.3%) and Norway (0.8%), still want stricter regulations on industrial water use. This highlights a gap between actual water management performance and public expectations.
*As a proportion of available freshwater resources.
Water use efficiency varies widely across sectors, shaped by local economies and cultures. While some regions excel in wastewater treatment and circular practices, others face data gaps and performance challenges, complicating sustainable water management.
Across countries, public concern varies greatly. Spain leads with 37% expressing extreme concern, reflecting heightened vulnerability and distrust. Meanwhile, the UK shows relatively low concern and higher confidence in infrastructure but suffers from low public awareness of water resilience concepts, exposing a critical communication gap.
High awareness of water stress doesn’t always translate into behavior change. Systemic barriers, lack of personal responsibility, and insufficiently targeted campaigns stress the need for approaches that go beyond information-sharing to actively promote responsibility. Notably, 11% of US respondents report taking no water-saving measures at all.
Most respondents across countries are unfamiliar with the term “water resilience” or unsure of its meaning, highlighting a pressing need for better public education to drive meaningful understanding and engagement with water-related challenges.
Key findings
Statistics and findings driving the conversation on water resilience.
91%
of respondents have concerns about climate change-related issues in their region
53%
of respondents think their region is not prepared for climate-related challenges
47%
of respondents are unfamiliar with the term “water resilience”
14%
of respondents are willing to pay more for water quality
12%
of respondents don’t know the most effective ways to save water
36%
of respondents don’t monitor their water usage
Water is under pressure. Are we ready to act?
Download the report: Kemira Water Index
The Kemira Water Index reveals a critical disconnect: while data shows rising risks to water systems, most people are not taking the steps to prepare. It’s time to address the knowledge gaps and prioritize clean water access in our communities for future generations to come.
Get a snapshot of the latest developments in water quality, water use & water management preparedness. We break down what’s happening – and what it means for you.
The public isn’t worried about PFAS…yet
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of persistent chemicals that do not degrade easily. They are used in the manufacturing of everyday products and can end up in the water supply. In recent years, public concern has increased as more people have become aware of these widely used “forever chemicals” and their potential impact on human health. Still, fewer than 30% of our survey respondents said PFAS was their biggest concern regarding drinking water contaminants. The results indicate slightly more concern mounting in the surveyed European countries. With this in mind, water utilities and private companies could expect stronger pressure to adopt PFAS removal solutions in Europe, while the US public still learns about this hot-button issue.
In the US, plastic is preferred – and potentially polluted
Even though research shows that tap water is generally safe across all surveyed places, respondents in the US showed a clear preference for bottled water. Nearly 40% said it’s their main source of drinking water. That’s in stark contrast to Europe, where 70% of our respondents choose tap. People cite convenience, taste, and safety as reasons for choosing bottled water. Yet, despite these perceptions, manufacturers aren’t required by law to disclose contaminant levels, leaving consumers with less transparency than they might expect. In fact, about 25 % of bottled water is just tap water.
Across the Atlantic, water planning is failing
A clear majority of respondents on both sides of the ocean were unimpressed with government planning for future water challenges. In Europe, dissatisfaction runs high. 76% of respondents say their country is doing poorly or should improve at helping communities prepare for floods. In the US, concern about flood readiness is also significant, with 64% of respondents saying their state is doing poorly or should improve at helping communities prepare for floods.
Insights from experts
Industry experts from across the technology, regulatory, and water management sectors share their insights on the mounting costs of today’s water security challenges – and stress the need for leaders to act swiftly and strategically to protect communities’ long-term access to safe, reliable water.
Treat contamination as the global health and security crisis it is – because the costs of inaction are becoming too great to ignore. PFAS chemicals may be invisible, but addressing them is no less urgent than tackling microplastics, or broader climate change issues.
Chad Edwards, Co-Founder and CEO, CuspAI
Mitigating the risks of water-related issues and disasters is not an easy task, as water resources are very unevenly distributed around the world, but by regulating water treatment we (the policymakers) can, at least, take care of our
part of the challenges.
Nils Torvalds, Journalist, former Member of the European Parliament
The wastewater treatment plant must be provided with adequate treatment capacity and operational robustness in order to ensure full treatment in alternating weather conditions, including maintenance situations.
Kristian Sahlstedt, Director, Wastewater Services
Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority
The overall philosophy of ‘Cloudburst’ is a way to approach and invest into infrastructure to deal with extreme weather events. The investments include multi-functional urban infrastructure, that has multiple purposes.
Paul O’Callaghan, Founder & CEO, BlueTech Research & Brave Blue World
Have questions?
Get in touch
In case you have any questions about the report, or are a member of the media, please reach out and our team will get back to you soon.
What will the future of water management look like? Download the “Water management 2040 – future scenarios” report to find out what kinds of different scenarios our expert panel was able to envision.
Learn about smart solutions for wastewater disinfection, phosphorus treatment and sludge dewatering – and study the benefits of chemical water treatment in terms of CO2 footprint, cost optimization, and more.
