European Clean Drinking Water Index

Updated 11 July 2025 EU Environment and Climate EU Environment and Climate

On June 4, 2025, the European Commission launched its Water Resilience Strategy to tackle rising water stress, droughts, and pollution. The plan targets a 10% cut in water use by 2030, improved infrastructure, better enforcement of existing water laws, and up to €15 billion in investments through the European Investment Bank.

The strategy also introduces a new Water Resilience Forum, better monitoring, digital tools, and fairer pricing of water across sectors.

The list below is based on publicly available rankings, gathered by EU Environment and Climate. While Europe generally enjoys high water quality, there are major regional differences. Mountain areas like the Alps and Scandinavia benefit from naturally clean water, while lowland agricultural and industrial regions face higher risks from pollutants like PFAS, nitrates, and pathogens. Over 23,000 PFAS-contaminated sites have been identified, affecting millions. The EU strategy aims to close these gaps and secure clean water for all.

Full details on the EU’s strategy are available here.

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