More than half of EU's waters in poor ecological state – EEA report

Water pollution is worsening in the EU with 62% of rivers, lakes and coastal sites currently in a bad ecological state, a significant increase from the 40% registered in 2020, according to a report from the EU environment agency (EEA) presented on Monday. 

Published every five years, the EEA report provides a ‘health-check’ for Europe’s environment, climate and sustainability with this year’s report raising the alarm on the deteriorating state of its waters.

Only 37% of Europe's rivers and lakes had a 'good' or 'high' ecological status, according to EEA’s report, which urges policymakers to take action to curb the high level of micro-pollutants in bodies of water. Used in pesticides, PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to break down in the environment, are widely present in rivers and lakes, according to a 2024 report from the EU environment agency.

The report also found that 30% of Europe’s land is at risk of drought and 34% of the bloc’s population risks lacking water at some point.

Growing and harvesting agricultural crops and forestry were identified as the key culprits for water stress and biodiversity loss, the report found, claiming that costs of failure to implement EU environmental laws through air and water pollution, nature degradation and waste are estimated at €180bn per year for the EU.

“We cannot afford to lower our climate, environment and sustainability ambitions. Our state of environment report, co-created with 38 countries, clearly sets out the science-based knowledge and demonstrates why we need to act,” said Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA executive director.

Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said protection of nature needs urgently to be treated as an investment rather than a cost.

“Healthy nature is the basis for a healthy society, a competitive economy and a resilient world, which is why the EU is committed to stay the course on our environmental commitments,” said Roswall.

Roswall said the EU law dealing with urban wastewater treatment, where producers of pharmaceuticals and chemicals are now responsible to cover at least 80% of their waste, under the polluter pays principle is another step forward to tackle micropollutants and increase water quality. However, the latest revision of the EU’s water rules adopted last week by EU ambassadors, has been criticised by green campaigners for its lack of ambition.

“Europe is sawing off the branch it is sitting on: dismantling the very laws that safeguard our people, our food and water security, and our economy puts the future of our continent at risk,” said MEP Lena Schilling (Austria/Greens), referring to the roll-back of adopted EU environmental laws, such as the EU anti-deforestation law.

Lucille Labayle, advocacy officer for Surfrider Foundation Europe said the EU environment agency's report was a "wake-up call". 

“Europe’s fresh and marine waters remain in a degraded state. While the findings come as no surprise, our set failure to achieve most 2030 and 2050 targets on water quality, the report exposes that pollution must be tackled at source urgently. The clear message is that healthy waters are a matter of public health as much as it is of environmental protection — and Europe cannot afford more delay,” said Labayle.