Bathing water quality rising across Europe

The proportion of bathing water sites across the EU classed as ‘excellent’ rose from 79 per cent in 2012 to 83 per cent last year, according to a report from the European Environment Agency (EEA).

A total of 95 per cent of sites passed the minimum requirements in 2013, which was roughly the same as 2012. Overall, two per cent of bathing sites were rated as poor.

In the UK, more than 98 per cent of beaches complied with the minimum requirements, 80.5 per cent met the more stringent ‘excellent’ level and 1.1 per cent were rated as poor. All of its thirteen inland bathing water sites complied with the minimum requirements.

Last week the EA warned that around 40 English beaches are at risk of failing new targets set out in the EU Bathing Water Directive, which are almost twice as stringent from 2015.

While nine out of 10 UK beaches already meet the standard, misconnections and the mishandling of sewage and drainage are still causing pollution.

Cyprus and Luxembourg came top of the ranking, with all their bathing sites deemed excellent. Member States with the highest proportion of sites with a poor status were France, Spain, and Ireland – all with three per cent.

Janez Potočnik, the EU environment commissioner, said: “It’s good that the quality of European bathing waters continues to be of a high standard. But we cannot afford to be complacent with such a precious resource as water.  We must continue to ensure that our bathing and drinking water as well as our aquatic ecosystems are fully protected.”