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EU Bathing Water Report: 85 Percent of Sites Rated Excellent, 96 Percent Meet Minimum Standards
The European Environment Agency assessed more than 22,000 sites and found 96 percent meet minimum safety standards. Coastal waters performed best while rivers trailed, and the European Commission is reviewing the directive.
Jul 8, 2:15 AM·1m read1 source
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The European Environment Agency released its 2025 bathing water report on July 8, showing that 85 percent of more than 22,000 assessed sites across the EU, Albania and Switzerland received an excellent rating. Ninety-six percent of the sites met minimum safety standards. Coastal locations recorded the strongest results, with 88 percent rated excellent.
Lake sites reached 78 percent excellent, while 47 percent of roughly 1,200 river sites achieved the same rating. Bacterial contamination from E. coli and intestinal enterococci remained the primary cause of shortfalls, typically linked to sewage or manure runoff after heavy rain.
Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria and Austria each posted excellent ratings at more than 95 percent of their sites. Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Estonia each recorded excellent ratings below 70 percent. Urban river swimming has resumed in Paris, Berlin, Budapest and Vilnius.
Current EU rules monitor only two types of bacteria and do not track chemical pollutants such as PFAS or microplastics. The European Commission is reviewing the 20-year-old Bathing Water Directive to update monitoring requirements amid heavier rainfall and longer bathing seasons.
