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See all EU institutions and bodiesBathing water quality has improved over time based on tests for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and intestinal enterococci bacteria. Between 2010 and 2023, the share of EU bathing waters classified as ‘excellent’ quality was within a range of 81-89% for coastal bathing waters and 60-82% for inland bathing waters. Consistently high shares of excellent bathing water quality indicate that the combined effect of the systematic monitoring and management of bathing sites, and improvements in wastewater networks and treatment have led to a drastic reduction in organic pollutants and pathogens.
Figure 1. Proportion of coastal and inland bathing waters of excellent quality in the EU-27 between 2010 and 2023
One of the main requirements of the Bathing Water Directive (BWD) was to ensure that all bathing waters were of at least ‘sufficient’ quality by 2015. In the 2023 bathing season, this requirement was met by 96% of all EU Member States' bathing waters.
The highest level, ‘excellent’, is the most ambitious bacteriological quality of bathing waters. An excellent quality of bathing water ensures an enhanced level of health protection for bathers, and also indicates that certain pressures such as urban wastewater discharge and animal manure are properly addressed, with potential additional benefits for the aquatic environment.
In coastal waters, the share of excellent bathing sites increased steadily from 2010 (80.6%) to 2016 (88%), stabilising at around 88-89% from 2017 to 2023. The share of inland bathing waters with excellent quality grew markedly from 2010 (60.3%) to 2017 (82.2%), showing a slight decrease afterwards and stabilising at around 78-79% from 2019 to 2023.
The European bathing water quality in 2023 briefing explains that bathing water quality in coastal areas is generally better than in their inland counterparts. Many of central Europe’s inland bathing waters are found in relatively small lakes, ponds and rivers. These inland waters are more susceptible than those in coastal areas to short-term pollution caused by heavy rains.
The briefing also notes that climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of various extreme weather events, including heavy rains. In turn, these events will impact bathing water quality through pollution from sewer overflows, floods or surface run-off. This will come with corresponding potential increased health risks for bathers.
These sources of pollution should be tackled at the local level on a case-by-case basis through integrated urban wastewater management plans under the recast Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (recast UWWTD). In the long term, it can be expected that the implementation of such plans and furthermore stringent requirements on wastewater treatment, as envisaged by the recast UWWTD, may help preserve or even improve the current level of excellent bathing water quality across the EU Member States.
Figure 2. Proportion of coastal and inland bathing waters of excellent quality in EU-27, Albania and Switzerland, season 2023
In 2023, the share of coastal bathing waters with excellent quality was above 90% in 10 countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Malta, Portugal and Italy). It was between 60-90% in another ten (Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Latvia, France, Ireland, Romania, Sweden, Belgium and Finland) and between 40-60% in three countries (Poland, Estonia and Albania).
The proportion of inland bathing waters with excellent quality was above 90% in seven countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Austria, Finland, Denmark and Germany). It was between 60-90% in 16 countries (Lithuania, Ireland, Luxembourg, Italy, Estonia, Czechia, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Slovakia, Netherlands, Latvia, Belgium, Portugal, Slovenia and Hungary) and between 30-60% in four countries (Poland, Spain, Croatia and Albania). The described data distribution confirms that bathing water quality in coastal waters is generally better than in their inland counterparts.