Habitat pollution, climate change and overuse of freshwater resources are putting pressure on Europe, with only a third of its surface waters in good condition, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned.
EEA executive director Leena Yla-Mononen said on Tuesday, 15 October:
The health of Europe’s waters is not good. Our waters face an unprecedented set of challenges that threatens Europe’s water security.
Only 37% of Europe’s surface water bodies achieved “good” or “high” ecological status, an indicator of the health of water ecosystems, according to the EEA report. Meanwhile, only 29% of surface waters reached “good” chemical status between 2015 and 2021.
77% of Europe’s groundwater reserves, the source of most of the continent’s drinking water, have a “good” chemical status. This status means that the water is free from excessive contamination by chemical nutrients and toxic substances such as PFAS and microplastics.
Surface water is threatened by air pollution, such as coal burning and car emissions, and by agriculture, whose discharged waste pollutes the soil.
European agriculture needs to increase its use of more sustainable organic and agroecological practices, accompanied by incentives and a change in our food and dietary habits.
The European Agency analysed 120,000 surface water bodies and 3.8 million square kilometres (1.5 million square miles) of groundwater sites in 19 EU countries and Norway. The agency called on EEA member states to halve pesticide use by 2030.
We need to redouble our efforts to restore the health of our valued rivers, lakes, coastal waters and other water bodies, and to make sure this vital resource is resilient and secure for generations to come.
