Less than half of european surface water is clean

Only one-third of surface waters in Europe, including lakes, rivers, and coastal areas, are of good quality, a report by the EU Environment Agency indicates. The assessment states that the condition of EU water is poor and faces challenges threatening Europe’s water security. While 77% of groundwater is of good chemical status, reaching the ‘good’ quality benchmark for both chemical and ecological status as per EU directives is not on track, with no improvement seen and some areas worsening. The report suggests that if the current trend continues, the goal set for 2027 to reach the target quality will not be attainable. Additionally, Southern Europe faces challenges with drinking water resources, and the EU Environment Agency recommends agriculture to reduce emissions and suggests nature restoration. The report covers data from 19 EU countries and Norway, representing a significant portion of European waters.