In the latest report from the European Commission on the quality of bathing water in Europe, Austria is now in first place – and with it Cyprus in first place. Of a total of 261 inland resorts surveyed last year, 97.7 percent were classified as “excellent” – more than in all other EU countries, as well as Albania and Switzerland. Malta is in second place, while the seaside resorts of Greece and Croatia are in third place. The rear lights: Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
Overall, the EU report rated 99.2 percent of all domestic water bodies as “excellent” or “good”. This puts Austria at the top of the 29 countries that meet the requirements of the Bathing Water Directive. In total, European bathing waters were examined at almost 22,000 measuring points.
“The great result is confirmation that our measures and investments of 50 billion euros over the past decades to keep the water clean are having an effect,” said federal minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) on the occasion of the current ranking. “Just before the start of the summer bath and the holiday season, guests from far and wide can be sure: the quality of our local natural bathing water is excellent”.
85 percent of bathing areas in the EU excellent
Overall, the Copenhagen-based EU Environment Agency (EEA) rated about 85 percent of Europe’s bathing areas as excellent. The EU minimum water quality standards were met at almost 95 percent of the sites. In the previous year it was only around 83 or 93 percent.
For the assessment, the authority looked at the contamination of the water with faecal bacteria, namely intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli. These can lead to human diseases. As a result, the water quality depends on the detected amount of these bacteria, which mainly come from sewage and agriculture. The EMA recommends bathing bans, warnings or other measures for the bathing areas that are classified as bad.
The “Zero Pollution” action plan is still ongoing
This year’s results prove that more than 40 years of EU action to improve bathing water quality across Europe has benefited both our health and the environment, said Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director. “The EU Zero Pollution Action Plan and the revision of the EU Bathing Water Directive will further strengthen our commitment to preventing and reducing pollution in the coming decades.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
