European research is delivering more than knowledge; indeed it is providing sustainable solutions to problem owners. The ‘problem solving’ approach combines scientific expertise with industrial involvement to secure reliable and exploitable results with highly marketable potential. However research is not limited to looking at today’s drawbacks. European research projects are anticipating future threats and challenges and are already now delivering strategies and tools for the future. Since decades Community Research is supporting efforts towards environmental technologies. A wide diversity of activities with relevance to the water sector are promoted and financed by consecutive Framework Programmes.