Groundwater: A Vital Resource Under Threat
Groundwater is one of the most critical natural resources in the European Union, yet it faces significant challenges. According to the European Environment Agency, over 20% of groundwater across the EU is in poor chemical condition. This means that harmful substances such as mercury and cadmium are present at levels exceeding those set by the EU Water Framework Directive. The environmental and social costs of treating this water for drinking and sanitation purposes are immense.
One of the primary concerns is the high cost of addressing nitrates, which are often found in fertilizers. It is estimated that treating these nitrates alone costs the EU up to €320 billion annually. While the EU has set a limit of 50 milligrams per litre for nitrates, the European Commission reports that this threshold was exceeded at 14% of groundwater monitoring stations across Europe.
Europe Leads in Water Sanitation and Drinking Water Quality
Despite these challenges, Europe’s substantial investments in groundwater sanitation have shown positive results. Nineteen of the 20 countries with the best sanitation and drinking water quality globally are located in Europe, with Japan being the sole exception, according to the Environmental Performance Index. Countries such as Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK achieved a perfect score of 100 points for protecting human health from unsafe drinking water and sanitation.
However, the situation varies significantly across the continent. Moldova, Georgia, and Albania had the lowest scores, with Moldova scoring 50 points, Georgia 51.7, and Albania 54.1. Three EU countries also ranked among the lowest in Europe: Latvia (59.10), Lithuania (58.40), and Romania (56).
The EU has taken steps to monitor and address water quality issues. In January 2022, it introduced the first drinking water watchlist, focusing on tracking levels of beta-estradiol and nonylphenol—two endocrine-disrupting compounds that can mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones.
The Broader Impact of Groundwater Pollution
Groundwater remains a pressing issue, especially given its role in supplying water for both agriculture and drinking. Approximately 25% of agricultural irrigation and 65% of drinking water in the EU come from groundwater sources. Researchers at the Water Atlas, a groundwater purity index developed by the German think tank Heinrich Böll Foundation, highlight that around 80% of all wastewater worldwide enters water bodies without treatment. This has led to rivers and lakes becoming “stinking, toxic cesspools.”
The Water Atlas has mapped groundwater bodies across Europe based on their chemical status under the EU’s Water Directive standards. The results reveal alarming trends in several countries. For example, in Luxembourg, 79% of mapped groundwater bodies failed to meet the good chemical status criteria in 2025. Similar issues were observed in the Czech Republic (55%), Belgium (41%), and Germany (40%).
Ongoing Threats to Water Quality
Pesticides continue to be a major threat to water quality. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was detected in 94% of 36 tap water samples collected across 11 EU countries. Many pesticides also contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” which were identified at 23,000 locations across Europe.
Pharmaceutical compounds, with over 175 types identified in Europe’s groundwater, and microplastics further add to the environmental pressures. These contaminants pose long-term risks to both human health and ecosystems, underscoring the need for continued efforts to protect and manage groundwater resources effectively.
