Ecological status of surface waters in Europe

The ecological status of European Union surface waters continues to decline, as reported, only 39.6% attained good status in 2021. Member States must urgently implement all measures to achieve a good ecological status to meet the Water Framework Directive’s 2027 deadline. The third River Basin Management Plans are the final opportunity to meet the Water Framework Directive’s objectives and deliver on the Water Resilience Strategy. Key opportunities to accelerate progress and foster synergies to amplify results across policies can be found through the Nature Restoration Regulation.

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Metadata
DPSIR State
Typology Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
UN SDGs SDG15: Life on land, SDG6: Clean water and sanitation
Topics Water, Biodiversity
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Geographic coverage { "readOnly": true, "geolocation": [ { "label": "Austria", "value": "geo-2782113" }, { "label": "Belgium", "value": "geo-2802361" }, { "label": "Bulgaria", "value": "geo-732800" }, { "label": "Croatia", "value": "geo-3202326" }, { "label": "Cyprus", "value": "geo-146669" }, { "label": "Czechia", "value": "geo-3077311" }, { "label": "Denmark", "value": "geo-2623032" }, { "label": "Estonia", "value": "geo-453733" }, { "label": "Finland", "value": "geo-660013" }, { "label": "France", "value": "geo-3017382" }, { "label": "Germany", "value": "geo-2921044" }, { "label": "Greece", "value": "geo-390903" }, { "label": "Hungary", "value": "geo-719819" }, { "label": "Iceland", "value": "geo-2629691" }, { "label": "Ireland", "value": "geo-2963597" }, { "label": "Italy", "value": "geo-3175395" }, { "label": "Latvia", "value": "geo-458258" }, { "label": "Lithuania", "value": "geo-597427" }, { "label": "Luxembourg", "value": "geo-2960313" }, { "label": "Malta", "value": "geo-2562770" }, { "label": "Netherlands", "value": "geo-2750405" }, { "label": "Norway", "value": "geo-3144096" }, { "label": "Poland", "value": "geo-798544" }, { "label": "Portugal", "value": "geo-2264397" }, { "label": "Romania", "value": "geo-798549" }, { "label": "Slovakia", "value": "geo-3057568" }, { "label": "Slovenia", "value": "geo-3190538" }, { "label": "Spain", "value": "geo-2510769" }, { "label": "Sweden", "value": "geo-2661886" } ] }
Workflow
Content responsible Head of Group Trine Christiansen
Layout
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These statuses are often associated with specific human activities that result in significant pressures on water bodies. They are affected by pollution from atmospheric deposition (59% of waterbodies), hydromorphological changes (57%), stemming from drainage and irrigation for agriculture, hydropower, flood protection, navigation or drinking water supply, and agricultural pollution (32%)\ufeff.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The proportion of water bodies with less than good " }, { "children": [ { "text": "ecological status" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ", classified as moderate, poor or bad, varies across river basin districts. These statuses are often associated with " }, { "children": [ { "text": "specific human activities" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=COM:2025:2:FIN" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " that result in significant pressures on water bodies. They are affected by pollution from atmospheric deposition (59% of waterbodies), hydromorphological changes (57%), stemming from drainage and irrigation for agriculture, hydropower, flood protection, navigation or drinking water supply, and agricultural pollution (32%)\ufeff. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "477fe5cb-6e39-47cb-be96-1e0a5b3c8ff7": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "4aa33102-f145-4cc6-9048-413c04445193": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "d566c0a7-9910-403c-9140-592785339f18": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 2. Percentage of water bodies not in good ecological status or potential, per river basin district", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2. Percentage of water bodies not in good ecological status or potential, per river basin district" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d566c0a7-9910-403c-9140-592785339f18" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "styles": {} }, "a660b6cb-8af4-4bf7-bb83-08ed95c92ca9": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Other river basin districts report 70-90% of water bodies in less than good status . These include southern and eastern Bulgaria, the Odra in Czechia, southern Germany, the Capital City and Zealand regions of Denmark, the Douro in Spain, parts of northern France and the Loire, the Danube in Croatia, the Neagh Bann in Ireland, southern Italy and Sicily, the Lielupes Upju in Latvia, eastern Poland and southern Sweden.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Other river basin districts report 70-90% of water bodies in " }, { "children": [ { "text": "less than good status" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". These include southern and eastern Bulgaria, the Odra in Czechia, southern Germany, the Capital City and Zealand regions of Denmark, the Douro in Spain, parts of northern France and the Loire, the Danube in Croatia, the Neagh Bann in Ireland, southern Italy and Sicily, the Lielupes Upju in Latvia, eastern Poland and southern Sweden. 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The Nature Restoration Regulation presents a key opportunity to accelerate progress , not only towards achieving the WFD\u2019s objective of good ecological status, but also toward restoring habitats and species across Europe.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "To improve and restore approximately 60.4% of surface waters in the EU that currently fall short of good and high ecological status, full implementation of management and mitigation measures under the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "WFD" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2000/60/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " is essential. This must be complemented by effective implementation of measures under other relevant legislation. 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Distribution of ecological status or potential of rivers, lakes, coastal and transitional waters", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1. Distribution of ecological status or potential of rivers, lakes, coastal and transitional waters " } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "4ca213fb-80e1-4fdf-a9a4-82fd7927dc89" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c" }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "59110a37-dbc0-4a4b-b052-6a13b34023bd": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The European Union's Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to reach good ecological status for all surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters) across the EU. This is assessed through ecological status or potential, which reflects ecosystem health based on biological, chemical and hydromorphological elements. In 2021, 39.6% of surface waters reached good or high ecological status, based on data electronically reported by 25 Member States via the Water Information System for Europe platform as part of the third River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The European Union's " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Water Framework Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-framework-directive_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " (WFD) aims to reach good ecological status for all surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters) across the EU. This is assessed through ecological status or potential, which reflects " }, { "children": [ { "text": "ecosystem health" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " based on biological, chemical and hydromorphological elements. In 2021, 39.6% of surface waters reached good or high ecological status, based on data electronically reported by 25 Member States via the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Water Information System for Europe platform" } ], "data": { "url": "https://water.europa.eu/" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " as part of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "third River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs)" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025SC0013" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "6909c9f5-f37d-41c3-a66a-fae1b4ff524d": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "This percentage is lower compared to the second RBMPs which reported 42.4% for all 27 Member States. However, it is important to note that the third RBMPs do not include data from Finland and Hungary.\u00a0If these two countries had also been excluded from the 2015 analysis, the percentage of surface waters in good status would have been 40.5%. Additionally, when data from Norway is included in the current cycle, the figure rises from 39.6% to 47%.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "This percentage is lower compared to the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "second RBMPs" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feur-lex.europa.eu%2Flegal-content%2FEN%2FTXT%2F%3Furi%3DCELEX%253A52019SC0058&data=05%7C02%7Cpenelope.attard%40eea.europa.eu%7Cc526c093ffea431c1ad508dde9f4e905%7Cbe2e7beab4934de5bbc58b4a6a235600%7C1%7C0%7C638923960261190734%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WORm7u79pRpZE7lr6F8ntw1fAIaFqemSKuwE4Q3XaGI%3D&reserved=0" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " which reported 42.4% for all 27 Member States. However, it is important to note that the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "third RBMPs" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025SC0013" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " do not include data from Finland and Hungary.\u00a0If these two countries had also been excluded from the 2015 analysis, the percentage of surface waters in good status would have been 40.5%. Additionally, when data from Norway is included in the current cycle, the figure rises from 39.6% to 47%." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "7589c69a-629e-4615-9b60-5fdd9106eb13": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Surface waters are vital ecosystems that provide a wide range of services such as freshwater supply, climate regulation, water purification, recreation, and flood and drought control. However, pollution from urban, agricultural, and industrial sources has degraded water quality, and artificial structures like dams and embankments have disrupted natural connectivity, harming habitats like floodplains and wetlands. Coastal waters are also affected, deteriorating when land-based pollution enters the sea, further extending the impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Surface waters are vital ecosystems that provide a " }, { "children": [ { "text": "wide range of services" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " such as freshwater supply, climate regulation, water purification, recreation, and flood and drought control. However, pollution from urban, agricultural, and industrial sources has degraded water quality, and artificial structures like dams and embankments have disrupted natural connectivity, harming habitats like floodplains and wetlands. Coastal waters are also affected, deteriorating when land-based pollution enters the sea, further extending the impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>figure instructions goes here</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/581f926d9a4e419ea581742e15d7bf9a" }, "deb7e84d-d2c8-4491-90fa-3dc65fe02143": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "18fb283d-b17d-48c0-8564-6d01357b1ca6", "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d", "59110a37-dbc0-4a4b-b052-6a13b34023bd", "6909c9f5-f37d-41c3-a66a-fae1b4ff524d", "7589c69a-629e-4615-9b60-5fdd9106eb13" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><strong>Assessment text remains at</strong> <strong>the relevant</strong> <strong>aggregate level</strong> <strong>(i.e.</strong> <strong>global, EU, sectoral)</strong> <strong>and addresses the following: </strong></p><ol keys=\"dkvn8,e367c,f4lpb,9j981,7ai6k,3g3pd\" depth=\"0\"><li>Explains in one or two sentences on the environmental rationale of the indicator, i.e. why it matters to the environment that we see an increase/decrease in the value measured.</li><li>Explains in one or two sentences the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional. More information on the policy objective and related references will be included in the supporting information section. Where there is no policy objective associated with the indicator, i.e. where the indicator addresses an issue that is important for future policy formulation, this text should explain instead why this issue is important.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any mismatch between what the indicator tracks and what the policy objective/issue is.</li><li>Qualifies the historical trend (e.g. steady increase) and explains the key reasons (e.g. policies) behind it. If there is a quantitative target it explains if we are on track to meet it.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any recent changes to the trend and why.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Describes what needs to happen to see adequate progress in future, for instance in order to remain on track to meet targets.</li></ol><p><strong>Please cite your work if</strong> <strong>necessary</strong> <strong>using the EEA citation style (i.e.</strong> <strong>EEA, 2020). A full reference list appears in the supporting information section.</strong></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "2000", "placeholder": "Aggregate level assessment e.g. progress at global, EU level..", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Aggregate level assessment" }, "e9736b7c-4902-48aa-aecd-b706409a576d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "fab98362-1e89-4646-be99-d2547b5aa215": { "@layout": "794c9b24-5cd4-4b9f-a0cd-b796aadc86e8", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [], "as": "section", "block": "fab98362-1e89-4646-be99-d2547b5aa215", "data": { "blocks": { "12d8c532-f7ad-43fe-ada7-330b2d7a7a39": { "@type": "slate", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "Published: date \u2012 25min read", "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Published: " }, { "children": [ { "text": "date" } ], "data": { "id": "effective", "widget": "datetime" }, "type": "mention" }, { "text": " \u2012 25min read" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240": { "@type": "description", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, it also indicates whether we are on track to meet it and if not what are the reasons preventing that, e.g. socio-economic drivers, implementation gap etc.</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "placeholder": "Summary", "plaintext": "The ecological status of European Union surface waters continues to decline, as reported, only 39.6% attained good status in 2021. Member States must urgently implement all measures to achieve a good ecological status to meet the Water Framework Directive\u2019s 2027 deadline. The third River Basin Management Plans are the final opportunity to meet the Water Framework Directive\u2019s objectives and deliver on the Water Resilience Strategy. Key opportunities to accelerate progress and foster synergies to amplify results across policies can be found through the Nature Restoration Regulation.\n", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The ecological status of European Union surface waters continues to decline, as reported, only 39.6% attained good status in 2021. Member States must urgently implement all measures to achieve a good ecological status to meet the Water Framework Directive\u2019s 2027 deadline. The third River Basin Management Plans are the final opportunity to meet the Water Framework Directive\u2019s objectives and deliver on the Water Resilience Strategy. Key opportunities to accelerate progress and foster synergies to amplify results across policies can be found through the Nature Restoration Regulation. \r" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "\r" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "3cccc2bb-471a-44c7-b006-5595c4713ff2": { "@type": "layoutSettings", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "layout_size": "narrow_view", "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true }, "ddde07aa-4e48-4475-94bd-e1a517d26eab": { "copyrightIcon": "ri-copyright-line", "styles": {}, "variation": "default", "@type": "title", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hideContentType": true, "hideCreationDate": true, "hideDownloadButton": true, "hideModificationDate": true, "placeholder": "Indicator title", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "ddde07aa-4e48-4475-94bd-e1a517d26eab", "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240", "3cccc2bb-471a-44c7-b006-5595c4713ff2" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, it also indicates whether we are on track to meet it and if not what are the reasons preventing that, e.g. socio-economic drivers, implementation gap etc.</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "500", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "styles": { "style_name": "environment-theme-bg" }, "title": "Content header" } }
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Supporting information
Methodology [ { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology for indicator calculation" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Ecological status is an assessment of the quality of the structure and functioning of surface water ecosystems. It shows the influence of pressures (e.g. pollution and habitat degradation) on the identified quality elements. Ecological status is determined for each of the surface water bodies of rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters, based on biological quality elements and supported by physico\u2011chemical and hydromorphological quality elements. The overall ecological status classification for a water body is determined, according to the" }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/2c13c637dfe84d37b8a9d39e2b1fb30f#:~:text=European%20waters%20--%20Assessment%20of%20status%20and%20pressures,in%202009.%20EN%20PDF%3A%20TH-AL-18-005-EN-N%20-%20ISBN%3A%20978-92-9213-947-6" }, "children": [ { "text": " \"one out, all out\" principle" } ] }, { "text": ", by the element with the worst status of all the biological and supporting quality elements." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology for gap filling" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "\nNo methodology for gap filling has been specified." }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Data sources and providers { "readOnly": true, "data": [ { "@id": "5ca27e8f-ed67-4f9a-864f-d583ea0af258", "title": "WISE Water Framework Directive Database", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/dc1b1cdf-5fa0-4535-8c89-10cc051e00db?activeAccordion=1084383", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" } ] }
Definition [ { "children": [ { "text": "Countries report data on the ecological status of their water bodies to the European Commission and these data are stored in the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "WFD" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2000/60/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " database in " }, { "children": [ { "text": "WISE" } ], "data": { "url": "https://water.europa.eu/freshwater" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The ecological status of water bodies is based on comprehensive work carried out in the river basin districts and is by far the best estimate of the status of surface waters." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The ecological status is comparable between countries and river basin districts to a certain extent. However, the interpretation of differences in status should take into account differences in the use of quality elements in determining overall status." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Overall, the third RBMPs show limited change in status since the second RBMPs. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "All percentages are calculated excluding water bodies with unknown status. The proportion of water bodies with unknown status has decreased by a 28% since the last reporting cycle. However, despite the progress made by Member States to monitor progress," }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=COM:2025:2:FIN" }, "children": [ { "text": " major gaps in ecological status monitoring remain" } ] }, { "text": ", in terms of both spatial coverage and assessment confidence. " } ], "type": "p" } ]
Unit of measure [ { "children": [ { "text": "Proportion of water bodies with high or good ecological status." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Policy / environmental relevance [ { "children": [ { "text": "Justification for indicator selection" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No rationale has been identified for this indicator." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Scientific references" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": "No rationale references available." } ] }, { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": "" } ] }, { "children": [ { "text": "Context description" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2000/60/oj/eng" }, "children": [ { "text": "WFD " } ] }, { "text": "stipulates that EU Member States should aim to achieve good status for all bodies of surface water and groundwater. Ecological status is used here as a proxy for the overall status of water bodies." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Ecological status and potential are criteria used to assess the quality of the structure and functioning of surface water ecosystems. A surface water body with good ecological status shows low levels of distortion resulting from human activity. Ecological status is influenced by water quality (e.g. levels of pollution of all types) as well as habitat degradation." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Targets" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No targets have been specified." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Related policy documents" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No related policy documents have been specified." } ], "type": "p" }, { "type": "p", "children": [ { "text": "" } ] } ]
Frequency of dissemination 5
Accuracy and uncertainties [ { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No uncertainty has been specified." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Data sets uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No uncertainty has been specified." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Rationale uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No uncertainty has been specified." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Settings
Short name ecological-status-of-surface-waters
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Contents
Percentage of water bodies not in good ecological status or potential, per river basin district

The figure shows, at country level, the percentage of water bodies that are not in good ecological status or potential per river basin district. The map is based on information reported under the Water Framework Directive as part of countries’ third river basin management plans. The percentages are based on surface water bodies with known ecological status or potential (i.e. they do not include water bodies with unknown status). Caution is needed when comparing results between countries, as results can be affected significantly by the methodologies used by individual countries.