A recent report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that only about one-third of Europe’s surface water is in good health, despite an EU target initially set for 2015 to achieve good water quality across all bodies of water.
Data from 19 EU member states showed that by 2021, only 37% of surface waters had good ecological status and 29% had good chemical status.
With the deadline now extended to 2027, experts warn that the target is likely to be missed by a wide margin.
Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA’s executive director, stated, “The health of Europe’s waters is not good.” She emphasized that Europe faces significant challenges, threatening its water security.
The report identified farming and coal-fired power plants as major contributors to water pollution, particularly in parts of western and central Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands.
Farming, power plants, and pollution threaten Europe’s surface water, EU targets likely missed.A notable example was the 2022 fish die-off in the Oder River, primarily caused by pollution from salt mines and urban wastewater.
Despite EU efforts to improve water quality over the past 25 years, the EEA report found minimal overall improvement.
Groundwater fared better than surface water, with 91% achieving good quantitative status and 77% reaching good chemical status. However, progress has been slow, with only a 1% improvement since 2015.
The EEA recommends solutions such as reducing water demand, decreasing harmful pollutants, and restoring rivers and wetlands.
Scientists warn that the impacts of climate change, such as recent floods in central Europe, make these actions more urgent.
The lobby group Water Europe has called for €255 billion in water investments by 2030 to protect the continent’s environment and economy.