Cyprus has the best bathing water quality, with 97.6% of its sites rated as excellent in 2023, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The report, assessing nearly 22,081 bathing waters across the EU, revealed that 85% of all locations were classified as excellent, while 96% met the minimum standards required by the Bathing Water Directive.
Coastal waters generally had better quality than inland waters, underscoring the effectiveness of stringent monitoring and management measures.
Despite the overall high standards, the report highlighted ongoing pollution challenges. Urban wastewater and agricultural runoff continue to impact water quality, with climate change and increasing heavy rainfall events posing additional risks by escalating runoff pollution.
In the broader European context, Austria, Croatia, and Greece joined Cyprus at the top, each reporting 95% or more of their bathing waters as excellent. Conversely, countries like Albania, Belgium, Estonia, Hungary, and Poland lagged behind, with less than 70% of their waters achieving the highest rating.
Poor-quality waters accounted for 1.5% of the total, signalling the need for improved pollution management. Persistent issues in certain areas demand better identification and mitigation of pollution sources.
The report also detailed various legislative measures underpinning water quality protection in the EU, including the Bathing Water Directive, the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and the Water Framework Directive.
The EEA report warns that climate change, particularly increased heavy rainfall, could undermine these gains, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and adaptation to preserve water quality across Europe.
Water quality. bathing water quality, pollution challenges, water quality protection