As pointed out in European Bathing Water Quality in 2023 report that we co-authored with the European Environment Agency, the quality of European bathing waters remains high. However, 1.5% of the EU’s bathing waters are of poor quality, indicating that management measures are not always adequate or in place.
Improving water resilience for people and for the environment in coming years will be key. Increased heavy rainfall linked to climate change could impact bathing water quality negatively, potentially increasing health risks for bathers.