Where are the Cleanest Swimming Waters in Europe?

A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) has assessed the quality of bathing waters at 22,127 sites across Europe. The report found that 85% of sites had excellent water quality.

The best performing countries were Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Austria, and Croatia, where 95% or more of bathing waters were rated as excellent. Cyprus ranked first with over 99% of its waters rated as excellent.

Conversely, the lowest rates of excellent quality were recorded in Belgium, Hungary, Estonia, Poland, and Albania. Albania had the lowest percentage of excellent quality waters (16%).

The report also identified problem areas in France, Italy, and Spain, where some sites had consistently poor water quality. Bathing areas that have been classified as poor for at least five consecutive years may be subject to a permanent swimming ban.

Waters suitable for swimming should have low levels of E. coli and intestinal enterococci, which are fecal bacteria. Cyanobacteria blooms are also an indication of poor water quality.