According to the 2019 report by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) on the quality of bathing waters in Europe, at least 95% of the bathing areas in Austria, Cyprus, Greece, and Malta have excellent water quality.
Thus, Cyprus holds 99.1% of all areas, Malta – 98.9% of all areas, Austria – 97.3% of all areas, and Greece – 97% of all areas.
The conclusions are based on water quality tests conducted in over 22,000 beach areas, rivers, and lakes in Europe in 2018 across the 28 EU member states, with the report also including 300 bathing areas monitored in Albania and Switzerland, countries that are not members of the community bloc.
All bathing areas in Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, and Slovenia achieved at least a “satisfactory” rating in 2018.
The three countries with the highest number of bathing areas with “unsatisfactory” water quality are: Italy (89 bathing areas or 1.6%), France (54 areas or 1.6%), and Spain (50 areas or 2.2%).
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
Which European countries have the cleanest bathing waters?
According to the report, Cyprus, Malta, Austria, and Greece have the highest percentage of excellent quality bathing waters, all exceeding 95%.
How many bathing sites were tested for this report?
The study analyzed over 22,000 bathing areas, including beaches, rivers, and lakes across 28 EU member states, Albania, and Switzerland.
What was the water quality status for Romania?
In 2018, all monitored bathing areas in Romania achieved at least a “satisfactory” quality rating.