Water quality and quantity are key for well-being

If you want to go for a swim in Europe, there is a very good chance that the water quality at your chosen bathing site is excellent. Besides, most European residents can enjoy good quality drinking water straight from the tap. 

However, Europe needs to reduce water pollution from agricultural land and industry, and improve wastewater treatment. This is because new evidence is emerging about micro pollutants, microplastics and antimicrobial resistance affecting water quality. At the same time, climate change is increasingly threatening water resources in some areas. 

Competing demands, pollution and climate change

Water is a critical part of nature and an essential resource for humans. Besides drinking it, we use water for everything from cooking to cleaning, showering, flushing and swimming. Similarly, our economic sectors, including energy, transport, agriculture and manufacturing, all rely on water.  

Competing demands for water contribute to pollution and can lead to over-exploitation, which can affect human health in negative ways. Direct health concerns are often linked to specific contaminants in water, such as bacteria, viruses, metals or pesticides. While most people in Europe have good access to high-quality drinking water and bathing water, new evidence about chemical pollution and water scarcity are growing concerns.  

Climate change is amplifying Europe’s water quantity and quality challenges. For instance, we are seeing more frequent and intense droughts and floods. Flooding has been the costliest type of climate-related extreme event, amounting to more than 223 billion euros in damage in the past four decades. Especially in southern Europe, water scarcity will get worse and affect all sectors.

Groundwater supplies about 65% of drinking water in the EU. However, according to the latest EEA assessment on this vital resource, chemical pollution has been found in about quarter of EU groundwaters, while almost 10% of groundwaters are affected by unsustainable level of abstraction.

Moreover, excessive levels of one or more pesticides were detected at between 4% and 11% of groundwater monitoring sites. 

Other health concerns include plastic pollution, microplastics from textiles and chemical pollutants, such as PFAS, that are found across Europe in soil and water.

Figure 1. Sources of microplastics, release routes and sinks

Reducing pollution at the source

Pollution from urban and industrial wastewater, agriculture, mining and houses that are not connected to a sewage system affect water quality in Europe. According to an EEA analysis, implementing EU water legislation in a better and more coherent way would help. Moreover, all water-using sectors, such as agriculture, energy and mining, should adopt practices that can keep water ecosystems healthy and resilient. These include farming programmes that reduce fertiliser and pesticide use. 

Urban wastewater treatment in all of Europe has improved over the past decades. Moreover, most European countries collect and treat sewage effectively for most of their population. However, an EEA analysis shows that maintaining existing wastewater treatment infrastructure, adapting to climate change, connecting rural areas and tackling new pollutants will require substantial investments.  

To combat marine litter and microplastics from textiles, pollution should be stopped at the very source. An EEA briefing on microplastics from textiles lists several ways to reduce this type of pollution, including more sustainable design and production processes, better clothing care, and better disposal and recycling. An EEA analysis on marine litter points out that land-based sources account for 80% of marine litter. Approximately 85% of it is plastic. 

Many existing EU laws and new ambitions for water 

Currently, key pieces of EU legislation on water and human health concern drinking water, bathing water and urban wastewater. Meanwhile, the Water Framework Directive reflects the overall goal to achieve good status for Europe’s rivers, lakes and groundwater. At the same time, other policies and regulations on agriculture, industry, chemicals and other sectors also have strong links to water. 

The European Green Deal's ambition to have an environment free of harmful pollution by 2050 also concerns water. As part of the zero pollution action plan, the European Commission proposed stronger rules curbing surface and groundwater pollutants, and better urban wastewater treatment.  

The proposals’ aims include better and more cost-effective urban wastewater treatment, recovering nutrients, producer responsibilities for micropollutants and new monitoring requirements for microplastics. The Commission is also proposing to update the list of water pollutants and more strictly control what goes into surface waters and groundwater. These substances include PFAS, pesticides, Bisphenol A and some pharmaceuticals. 

In a nutshell: water and health 

• Access to clean water is essential for human health and wellbeing. Most European residents enjoy good quality drinking water.
• Many areas increasingly suffer from water scarcity, putting pressure on water use in the agricultural and energy sectors.
• The EU Zero pollution action plan sets ambitious goals for water with new proposals to tackle pollutants.
• Improving urban wastewater treatment and preventing pollution from agriculture and mining would improve water quality across Europe. 

This feature article is part of EEA Signals 2023 — Environment and health in Europe.

See other articles in EEA Signals 2023

• Editorial — Caring for the environment is caring for ourselves
• Europe’s air is getting cleaner and improving people’s health
• Are you noticing the harmful noise around you?
• Safe and sustainable chemicals
• Heatwaves and other climate-related extremes are threatening health, especially for the most vulnerable
• Interview — What is the European environment and health atlas?
• Interview — Investing in safer chemicals