Today we dive deep into the political, regulatory, and technical complexities shaping the future of Europe’s water sector — far beyond pipes, pumps, and infrastructure.

I had the privilege of hosting Cristian Carboni, Business Development Manager at De Nora Water Technologies and a leading voice within Water Europe, the largest water association on the continent. His 25-year career blends research, regulation, consulting, and high-level advocacy across institutions like the European Commission, the Italian Parliament, and even the United Nations.

Together, we unpack:

🔹 What Water Europe really is and why it exists
🔹 How expert groups like Zero Pollution & Health influence EU directives
🔹 The shift toward water resilience, digitalization, and integration
🔹 Major regulatory transformations — from risk-based management to extended producer responsibility
🔹 PFAS, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the future threats no one can ignore
🔹 Why circular economy is now essential for Europe’s economic competitiveness
🔹 How €1 trillion in water investments could reshape the market by 2030

Cristian also shares eye-opening insights on how policy influence actually works in Brussels and why technical, well-organized input does move the needle — even when it doesn’t look like anyone in Parliament is listening.

This conversation left me with one conclusion: Europe’s water sector is entering a once-in-a-generation transformation, and understanding it is no longer optional.

If you care about water, regulation, innovation, or the future of European industry, this episode is packed with gold.