A majority of the European Union’s surface water bodies are polluted by chemicals, according to a European Commission report released Tuesday, highlighting significant challenges in protecting water resources.
As of 2021, only 39.5% of lakes, rivers, and coastal waters were in good ecological condition, while just 26.8% met good chemical standards, a decline from 33.5% in 2015.
Groundwater quality was better, with 86% in good chemical condition, though nitrate pollution from agriculture remains a widespread issue.
EU officials warn that water shortages, pollution, and urban expansion are worsening due to climate change. The bloc is drafting new measures to address these challenges, but stricter regulations on farming—one of the main sources of water contamination—could face political resistance.
With most countries unlikely to meet the EU’s 2027 water quality targets, failure to act could lead to legal action, similar to the Netherlands’ court-ordered nitrogen pollution cuts.
