Bridging the 6.5 Trillion Water Infrastructure Gap A Playbook 2025

Socio-economic multipliers of stand-alone Infrastructure sectors FIGURE 3 Socio- economic returns Stand- alone sectors1Economic multiplier (output/€)GDP multiplier (gross value added/€)Employment multiplier (jobs/€ million) Water Energy ICT2 Transport2.2x 2.1x 2.2x1.0x 1.1x 1.1x2.3x 1.2x 24.7x 11.7x 16.7x 25.2x Beyond these conventional channels, complementary socio-economic and environmental factors add to the upside potential of water infrastructure investments. Improved access to safe water and sanitation reduces the time and energy households spend collecting water, particularly in underserved regions, thereby freeing up hours for work, education and economic participation, especially for women and girls. At the same time, healthier populations benefit from lower morbidity and mortality linked to waterborne diseases, enabling individuals to contribute more consistently and productively to the economy. Sustainably managed water infrastructure also enhances ecosystems, for example by reducing pollutant loads in rivers, in turn supporting biodiversity and nature’s ability to provide goods and services that economies and societies rely on.Source: Acea Research & Studies analysis based on OECD’s ICIO tables Note: 1 “Water” sector: NACE code E (Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities). “Telecommunications” sector: NACE code J61 (Telecommunication); “Energy” sector: NACE code D (Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply); “Transport” sector: NACE code H49 (Land transport and transport via pipelines). 2 Information and communications technology Bridging the €6.5 Trillion Water Infrastructure Gap: A Playbook 11