Water and marine environment

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All life on our planet - including our ecosystems, society and economy - is dependent on water. Marine and freshwater ecosystems have many vital functions: filtering, diluting and storing water, preventing floods, maintaining the climate balance at local and global levels, safeguarding biological diversity. More

Key facts and messages: Full and coordinated implementation of water and nature legislation would restore aquatic habitats and foster water efficiency. more; Nutrient enrichment of Europe's freshwaters is a concern, with pollution from agriculture a cause of poor water quality. more; Average nitrate concentrations in European rivers reduced by over 20% between 1992 and 2012, whilst orthophosphate concentrations more than halved. more; Water management should improve with the second round of river basin management plans covering the 2016-2021 period resulting in the realisation of more policy objectives through stringent, well-integrated implementation and public participation. more; Intensive agriculture, urbanisation, energy production and flood protection have altered European hydrological systems and freshwater habitats for decades. Climate change adds to these challenges (higher water temperature, more floods or water... more; Enhanced integration of water policy objectives into other policy areas, especially agriculture, is essential to ensure that a sufficient quantity of good quality water is available for people's needs and the environment. more; Much cleaner than 25 years ago, many waterbodies are still affected by pollutants and/or altered habitats. In 2009, only 43% showed a good/high ecological status; the 10 points expected increase for 2015 (53%) constitutes only a modest improvement... more

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Vote for best ‘I LIVE GREEN’ videos

News 01 May 2018

The video competition ‘I LIVE GREEN’, organised by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its partner network, has reached the final stage. The Public Choice Award will be decided through an open online vote where you can have your say about the best video.

Photo competition: Send us your best water pictures

News 16 Apr 2018

What comes to your mind when you think about water? Can you capture that in a photograph? The European Environment Agency (EEA) invites you to send your most creative shots to WaterPIX, a photo competition about water. The best entries will receive a cash prize.

World Water Day: Turning to nature for solutions

News 22 Mar 2018

Nature-based solutions are playing an increasingly important role to better protect Europeans against floods, droughts and water pollution. On World Water Day 2018, the European Environment Agency is highlighting the importance of clean water and how nature can help protect this valuable resource for generations to come.

Video competition: Share your green actions

News 01 Dec 2017

How did you get to work or school today? By car, bicycle or public transport? Every day we make decisions that can impact the environment. Some of our daily decisions are conscious efforts to live in a cleaner and healthier environment. The video competition ‘I LIVE GREEN’, organised by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its partner network, invites all Europeans to show their creativity and to share their actions to help the environment. The best videos will receive a cash prize.

Vote for best ‘I LIVE GREEN’ videos The video competition ‘I LIVE GREEN’, organised by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its partner network, has reached the final stage. The Public Choice Award will be decided through an open online vote where you can have your say about the best video.

Photo competition: Send us your best water pictures What comes to your mind when you think about water? Can you capture that in a photograph? The European Environment Agency (EEA) invites you to send your most creative shots to WaterPIX, a photo competition about water. The best entries will receive a cash prize.

World Water Day: Turning to nature for solutions Nature-based solutions are playing an increasingly important role to better protect Europeans against floods, droughts and water pollution. On World Water Day 2018, the European Environment Agency is highlighting the importance of clean water and how nature can help protect this valuable resource for generations to come.

Video competition: Share your green actions How did you get to work or school today? By car, bicycle or public transport? Every day we make decisions that can impact the environment. Some of our daily decisions are conscious efforts to live in a cleaner and healthier environment. The video competition ‘I LIVE GREEN’, organised by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its partner network, invites all Europeans to show their creativity and to share their actions to help the environment. The best videos will receive a cash prize.

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Towards healthy and productive seas in Europe and beyond

Article 15 Sep 2017

Marine life, the global climate and our economy and social wellbeing all depend on healthy seas. Despite some improvements, our assessments show that the way we currently use Europe’s seas remains unsustainable. Climate change and competition for natural resources add extra pressures on the marine environment. European policies and measures could result in greater improvements when they are implemented through an ‘ecosystem-based management’ approach and are supported by a global ocean governance framework.

Towards healthy and productive seas in Europe and beyond Marine life, the global climate and our economy and social wellbeing all depend on healthy seas. Despite some improvements, our assessments show that the way we currently use Europe’s seas remains unsustainable. Climate change and competition for natural resources add extra pressures on the marine environment. European policies and measures could result in greater improvements when they are implemented through an ‘ecosystem-based management’ approach and are supported by a global ocean governance framework.

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Water management in Europe: price and non-price approaches to water conservation

Publication 04 Jul 2017

European Union (EU) water policies encourage Member States to implement better water demand management practices. This is a response to the pressures on water resources that are continuously increasing. Management practices on water demand are being revised to improve the existing supply-demand balance and ultimately to bring about a more water-efficient society.

The Arctic Environment

Publication 15 Jun 2017

This European Environment Agency (EEA) report contributes to the growing international discourse on the Arctic region. It is both timely and important, since it examines the increasingly rapid changes that are taking place in the Arctic from a European perspective. It considers the national, regional and global challenges and opportunities that are emerging as a result

European bathing water quality in 2016

Publication 23 May 2017

Every summer, European holiday resorts fill up with tourists eager to enjoy the warmer weather and the beautiful natural surroundings of this diverse continent. For many, the summer vacation is synonymous with swimming in the sea or in a lake, so it is natural that water quality is an important factor in choosing a destination. To help citizens make informed choices, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission publish the annual European bathing water quality report. The information contained in this edition - which covers bathing water quality in 2016 in the EU Member States, Albania and Switzerland - indicates where good quality bathing water is likely to be found in 2017.

European water policies and human health — Combining reported environmental information

Publication 30 Nov 2016

Society depends on the satisfactory and sustainable management of water. This report considers three pieces of EU water legislation targeted at particular sectors: the Bathing Water Directive, the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and looks at common issues in the context of the Water Framework Directive. A review of the implementation of each of the sectoral directives is provided.

Water management in Europe: price and non-price approaches to water conservation European Union (EU) water policies encourage Member States to implement better water demand management practices. This is a response to the pressures on water resources that are continuously increasing. Management practices on water demand are being revised to improve the existing supply-demand balance and ultimately to bring about a more water-efficient society.

The Arctic Environment This European Environment Agency (EEA) report contributes to the growing international discourse on the Arctic region. It is both timely and important, since it examines the increasingly rapid changes that are taking place in the Arctic from a European perspective. It considers the national, regional and global challenges and opportunities that are emerging as a result

European bathing water quality in 2016 Every summer, European holiday resorts fill up with tourists eager to enjoy the warmer weather and the beautiful natural surroundings of this diverse continent. For many, the summer vacation is synonymous with swimming in the sea or in a lake, so it is natural that water quality is an important factor in choosing a destination. To help citizens make informed choices, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission publish the annual European bathing water quality report. The information contained in this edition - which covers bathing water quality in 2016 in the EU Member States, Albania and Switzerland - indicates where good quality bathing water is likely to be found in 2017.

European water policies and human health — Combining reported environmental information Society depends on the satisfactory and sustainable management of water. This report considers three pieces of EU water legislation targeted at particular sectors: the Bathing Water Directive, the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and looks at common issues in the context of the Water Framework Directive. A review of the implementation of each of the sectoral directives is provided.

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Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - High Resolution Layers - Water and Wetness

Data 16 May 2018

The combined Water and Wetness product is a thematic product showing the occurrence of water and wet surfaces over the period from 2009 to 2015. Two products are available: o The main Water and Wetness (WAW) product with defined classes of (1) permanent water, (2) temporary water, (3) permanent wetness and (4) temporary wetness. o The additional expert product: Water & Wetness Probability Index (WWPI) The products show the occurrence of water and indicate the degree of wetness in a physical sense, assessed independently of the actual vegetation cover and are thus not limited to a specific land cover class and their relative frequencies.

Water intensity of crop production

Data Visualization 21 Dec 2017

Water intensity of crop production

Indicator Assessment 21 Dec 2017

In Europe, between 2005 and 2013, the average water intensity of crop production was around 6 m 3 of water (irrigation plus soil moisture) for one unit of gross value added (GVA*) from all crops. In 2013, around 9 % less water was input to crops to produce the same GVA as in 2005. In western Europe, between 2005 and 2013, on average 5 m 3 of water (irrigation plus soil moisture) was input to crops to generate one unit of GVA. The water intensity of crop production improved by 5 % over the period. In southern Europe, between 2005 and 2013, on average 6 m 3 of water was input to crops to generate one unit of GVA. The water intensity of crop production improved by 13 % over the period. Crop patterns in southern Europe are, in general, associated with a relatively high GVA per hectare while irrigation is a major part of total water input to crops. In eastern Europe, between 2005 and 2013, on average 7 m 3 of water was input to crops to generate one unit of GVA. The water intensity of crop production improved by 18 % over the peiod. Improvements in water infrastructure and agricultural equipment resulted in reduced water losses and increased harvested yields. Between 2005 and 2013, the average water intensity of crop production was lowest in the Netherlands (0.6 m 3 for one unit of GVA) in western Europe, Malta (2 m 3 for one unit of GVA ) in southern Europe and Slovenia (3 m 3 for one unit of GVA ) in eastern Europe. * See definition of GVA and its units in Units section of this indicator.

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

Folder 20 Dec 2017

The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive data viewer enables an easy access and analysis of the data reported under the article 15 of the UWWTD. The information is presented in interactive tables, maps and charts, and can be downloaded or printed based on your selections.

Urban waste water treatment

Indicator Assessment 15 Dec 2017

The treatment of urban waste water is fundamental to ensuring public health and environmental protection. Urban waste water treatment in all parts of Europe has improved over recent decades. The proportion of the population connected to waste water treatment plants in northern countries has been above 80 % since 1995, with more than 70 % of urban waste water receiving tertiary treatment. In central European countries, connection rates have increased since 1995 and are now at 97 %, with about 75 % receiving tertiary treatment. The proportion of the population connected to urban waste water treatment in southern, south-eastern and eastern Europe is generally lower than in other parts of Europe, but has increased over the last 10 years with levels now at about 70 %.

Urban Waste Water Treatment map

GIS Map Application 14 Dec 2017

The map reflects the most recent available information at the EU-level on implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) in EU 28 plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland based on data reported by the Member States (for reference years 2013 or 2014) in 2015.

Waterbase - UWWTD: Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive – reported data

Data 14 Dec 2017

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and the treatment and discharge of waste water from certain industrial sectors. The objective of the Directive is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of the above mentioned waste water discharges.

Potential for additional floodplains on the Rhône

Figure 20 Nov 2017

This map depicts the Rhone river basin land cover within France. This map was created in order to have a higher spatial resolution of this specific area.

Potential for additional floodplains on the Vistula

Figure 20 Nov 2017

This map depicts the Vistula river basin land cover within Poland. This map was created in order to have a higher spatial resolution of this specific area.

Bathing water quality in Europe

Infographic 30 May 2017

Bathing water quality is improving in Europe. In 2016, the vast majority (85.5 %) of the more than 21,000 monitored bathing sites had excellent water quality. About two thirds of all monitored sites are by the coast and one third in inland rivers and lakes.

Water exploitation index plus (WEI+) for river basin districts

GIS Map Application 21 Mar 2017

This interactive map allows users to explore changes over time in water abstraction by source and water use by sector at sub-basin or river basin scale. The WEI+ has been calculated as the quarterly average per river basin district, for the years 2002-2014, as defined in the European catchments and rivers network system (ECRINS). The ECRINS delineation of river basin districts differs from that defined by Member States under the Water Framework Directive, particularly for transboundary river basin districts.

Bathing water quality in the European Union in the period 2011-2014

Figure 22 Dec 2015

Bathing water quality in the European Union in the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 bathing seasons.

Europe's seas and selected characteristics of EU marine protected area networks

Figure 18 Dec 2015

The table shows the areal extent of Europe's seas and selected characteristics of EU marine protected areas (MPAs), namely area coverage, percentage of coverage and total number of sites. Data excludes the Icelandic Sea, Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea

Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - High Resolution Layers - Water and Wetness The combined Water and Wetness product is a thematic product showing the occurrence of water and wet surfaces over the period from 2009 to 2015. Two products are available: o The main Water and Wetness (WAW) product with defined classes of (1) permanent water, (2) temporary water, (3) permanent wetness and (4) temporary wetness. o The additional expert product: Water & Wetness Probability Index (WWPI) The products show the occurrence of water and indicate the degree of wetness in a physical sense, assessed independently of the actual vegetation cover and are thus not limited to a specific land cover class and their relative frequencies.

Water intensity of crop production

Water intensity of crop production In Europe, between 2005 and 2013, the average water intensity of crop production was around 6 m 3 of water (irrigation plus soil moisture) for one unit of gross value added (GVA*) from all crops. In 2013, around 9 % less water was input to crops to produce the same GVA as in 2005. In western Europe, between 2005 and 2013, on average 5 m 3 of water (irrigation plus soil moisture) was input to crops to generate one unit of GVA. The water intensity of crop production improved by 5 % over the period. In southern Europe, between 2005 and 2013, on average 6 m 3 of water was input to crops to generate one unit of GVA. The water intensity of crop production improved by 13 % over the period. Crop patterns in southern Europe are, in general, associated with a relatively high GVA per hectare while irrigation is a major part of total water input to crops. In eastern Europe, between 2005 and 2013, on average 7 m 3 of water was input to crops to generate one unit of GVA. The water intensity of crop production improved by 18 % over the peiod. Improvements in water infrastructure and agricultural equipment resulted in reduced water losses and increased harvested yields. Between 2005 and 2013, the average water intensity of crop production was lowest in the Netherlands (0.6 m 3 for one unit of GVA) in western Europe, Malta (2 m 3 for one unit of GVA ) in southern Europe and Slovenia (3 m 3 for one unit of GVA ) in eastern Europe. * See definition of GVA and its units in Units section of this indicator.

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive data viewer enables an easy access and analysis of the data reported under the article 15 of the UWWTD. The information is presented in interactive tables, maps and charts, and can be downloaded or printed based on your selections.

Urban waste water treatment The treatment of urban waste water is fundamental to ensuring public health and environmental protection. Urban waste water treatment in all parts of Europe has improved over recent decades. The proportion of the population connected to waste water treatment plants in northern countries has been above 80 % since 1995, with more than 70 % of urban waste water receiving tertiary treatment. In central European countries, connection rates have increased since 1995 and are now at 97 %, with about 75 % receiving tertiary treatment. The proportion of the population connected to urban waste water treatment in southern, south-eastern and eastern Europe is generally lower than in other parts of Europe, but has increased over the last 10 years with levels now at about 70 %.

Urban Waste Water Treatment map The map reflects the most recent available information at the EU-level on implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) in EU 28 plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland based on data reported by the Member States (for reference years 2013 or 2014) in 2015.

Waterbase - UWWTD: Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive – reported data Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and the treatment and discharge of waste water from certain industrial sectors. The objective of the Directive is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of the above mentioned waste water discharges.

Potential for additional floodplains on the Rhône This map depicts the Rhone river basin land cover within France. This map was created in order to have a higher spatial resolution of this specific area.

Potential for additional floodplains on the Vistula This map depicts the Vistula river basin land cover within Poland. This map was created in order to have a higher spatial resolution of this specific area.

Bathing water quality in Europe Bathing water quality is improving in Europe. In 2016, the vast majority (85.5 %) of the more than 21,000 monitored bathing sites had excellent water quality. About two thirds of all monitored sites are by the coast and one third in inland rivers and lakes.

Water exploitation index plus (WEI+) for river basin districts This interactive map allows users to explore changes over time in water abstraction by source and water use by sector at sub-basin or river basin scale. The WEI+ has been calculated as the quarterly average per river basin district, for the years 2002-2014, as defined in the European catchments and rivers network system (ECRINS). The ECRINS delineation of river basin districts differs from that defined by Member States under the Water Framework Directive, particularly for transboundary river basin districts.

Bathing water quality in the European Union in the period 2011-2014 Bathing water quality in the European Union in the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 bathing seasons.