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Environmental information systems
Key messages: Bathing is safe in most of the EU’s bathing waters.In 2023, 85% of bathing waters in the EU were rated excellent and minimum water quality standards for compliance with the Bathing Water Directive were met in 96% of EU’s bathing waters. 1.5% of the EU’s bathing waters were still of poor quality, indicating that management measures are not always adequate or in place.
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Bathing water quality in Europe has improved markedly in recent decades thanks to a drastic reduction in organic pollutants and pathogens that were previously released within untreated or partially treated urban wastewater. This is the result of the combined effect of systematic monitoring and management introduced under the Bathing Water Directive (EU, 2006), large investments in urban wastewater treatment plants and improvements in wastewater networks. Thanks to these continued efforts, bathing is now possible in urban waters that were once heavily polluted. These achievements underscore the power of effective policies.
In the period 2009-2023, the proportion of bathing waters in the EU-27 with an excellent status ranged between 81% and 89% for coastal waters and between 60% and 82% for inland waters. Bathing water quality is generally better in coastal waters than in their inland counterparts. Many of central Europe’s inland bathing waters are found in relatively small lakes, ponds and rivers with a low flow. These inland waters are more susceptible to short-term pollution caused by heavy rains or droughts than coastal areas, especially in the summer.
Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.
Zero Pollution Action Plan 2030 target or policy objectives
- Preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment, and protect human health (EC, 2021).
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Other relevant indicators and signals
References and footnotes
- EU, 2006, Directive 2006/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 concerning the management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76\160\EEC (OJ L 64, 4.3.2006, pp. 37-51).a b
- EC, 2021, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All’ (SWD (2021) 140 final).↵