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Europeans want more action on water problems but UK citizens are not so sure it's the EU's business, according to a Eurobarometer poll.
Two thirds (67 per cent) of UK respondents thought the quality of groundwater, rivers, lakes and coastal waters had improved or stayed the same in the last ten years. This compares to less than half (48 per cent) Europe-wide.
However, 73 per cent of those sampled from all 27 member states thought the EU should propose additional measures to address water problems.
UK respondents were among the least likely to agree it was an issue for EU action, at 56 per cent.
“The European Union has been working for years to improve water quality, and we have results to show for it – the quality of drinking water and bathing water is much better than it was, and many more towns and cities have proper treatment of their waste water,” said European Commissioner Janez Potocnik.
“But droughts and floods are becoming more common, and Europe’s waters are under increasing pressure from challenges such as pollution and climate change.
“Citizens realise this and they are asking the EU to respond. These results are an important input to the coming Blueprint to Safeguard European Waters.”
More information on the environmental consequences of water use was seen as the best way to address problems, with 67 per cent of people backing that approach.
This was followed by heavier fines (60 per cent) and fair pricing (57 per cent).
Eurobarometer polled 25,524 people this month, including 1,011 from the UK.
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