- by Karma Loveday
2016 EU bathing water performance
The European Environment Agency has reported bathing water quality data for 2016. Among the headlines are:
96.5% of the UK’s 631 bathing waters were of at least sufficient quality, with 65% achieving excellent status. 3.2% were found to be of poor quality (the remaining 0.3% could not be classified robustly).
In terms of poor quality waters, the UK was one of three countries with the highest
rates (the other two being Ireland and Slovakia).
Across Europe, more than 21,000 bathing waters reported their status. 96.3% met the minimum standards demanded by the Bathing Water Directive, with 85% attaining excellent status (up from 78% in 2011). Five countries – Luxembourg, Cyprus, Malta, Greece and Austria– achieved 95%+ excellent status.
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