Fact Check: "Over 75% of Europe's bathing waters rated excellent in 2024"
What We Know
The claim that "over 75% of Europe's bathing waters rated excellent in 2024" is supported by recent assessments from the European Environment Agency (EEA). According to a report published in June 2025, over 85% of monitored bathing locations in the EU met the most stringent 'excellent' bathing water quality standards in 2024 (source-2). Additionally, the report states that 96% of all officially identified bathing waters in the EU met the minimum quality standards (source-4).
In England specifically, the Environment Agency reported that 92% of bathing waters met minimum water quality standards, with 85% rated as 'good' or 'excellent' (source-1). This indicates a significant improvement in water quality over the years, attributed to systematic monitoring and regulatory efforts.
Analysis
The claim is partially true. While it accurately reflects that a significant proportion of Europe's bathing waters are rated excellent, the specific percentage cited in the claim is slightly understated. The EEA's report indicates that over 85% of monitored bathing waters achieved 'excellent' ratings, which exceeds the 75% threshold mentioned in the claim.
However, it is important to note that the quality of bathing waters varies by region. For instance, coastal waters generally have better quality ratings compared to inland waters, with 89% of coastal bathing waters classified as excellent, compared to 78% for inland sites (source-2). This distinction is crucial for understanding the overall context of bathing water quality across Europe.
The sources used for this analysis are credible, with the EEA being a reputable agency responsible for providing sound data on environmental issues in Europe. Their assessments are based on systematic monitoring and adhere to EU regulations, which enhances their reliability (source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that "over 75% of Europe's bathing waters rated excellent in 2024" is partially true. While the claim is accurate in that it reflects a high percentage of excellent ratings, the actual figure is over 85%, which is a more precise representation of the data. Thus, while the claim is not misleading, it does not fully capture the extent of the improvement in bathing water quality across Europe.
