Water is the most basic need for humans. And not only for humans! Well functioning water services therefore are essential and are an important indicator of citizens’ welfare and well being. Drinking water and wastewater services are a central part of the water cycle management, as they are greatly influenced by both the availability and the quality of water resources. In a time of increasing awareness with regard to the environment, climate change and management of natural resources, water and sanitation issues will appear more and more on the political agenda of the European Union in the coming years. In order to develop effective and implementable water policy, basic and reliable facts and figures are indispensable. EUREAU’s Statistics Overview on Water and Wastewater in Europe aims at presenting general information about European water and sanitation services in our continent. EUREAU is an important stakeholder that wishes to play an active role in de development of European water policy. By providing statistical information on the water services in its member countries, EUREAU takes its responsibility to ensure that its recommendations on European water policy are based on reliable information. Furthermore, EUREAU is committed to support decision makers by making the information available to ensure that they can access relevant data. This Overview is divided in three major chapters. The first chapter is an introduction, with general information on historical development of water supply and wastewater services, on EUREAU interests, structure and mission, and on EUREAU member countries’ population, area, GNP, atmospheric precipitation, water availability and water uses. In the second chapter, a concise overview of the national context and basic statistics of the water and wastewater sectors in each EUREAU member country is presented. Institutional, legislative, economic aspects as well as water resources and water services management aspects are covered, outlining the diversity of organisational structures in these sectors across EUREAU member countries. In the third chapter, the Overview presents a table with EUREAU totals, as well as a series of graphics with a comparison of water resources, water uses and water & wastewater services among EUREAU member countries in the EU and the EFTA. Also, for those who wish to find more, a comprehensive list of useful references is provided, both national and international. The data included for each country were provided by the respective local National Association(s) and the accuracy of these data remains their responsibility. It is the intention of EUREAU to update this Overview regularly, in order to base EUREAU positions on, and provide policy makers with data as accurate and updated as possible.