Estonian Beaches Lag Behind EU in Water Quality Rankings
A European Environment Agency report finds that while 85% of EU swimming sites have excellent water quality, Estonia ranks among the lowest. Estonian officials note that only three of 65 monitored sites were rated poor, and sampling frequency affects results.
The peak swimming season has begun in Estonia and across Europe, but a new European Environment Agency report reveals that Estonia's bathing water quality falls below the EU average. According to the report, 85% of swimming sites in the European Union boast excellent water quality, whereas Estonia is among the worst performers. Bathing water quality is classified into four categories: poor, sufficient, good, and excellent.\n\nPilleriin Kalmus, head of water health safety at Estonia's Health Board, downplayed the report's findings. She stated that last year, data from 65 bathing sites were reported, and only three were rated poor. "I wouldn't say that our water quality is poor," Kalmus said.\n\nWater quality is impacted by agricultural fertilizers, but during summer, the main factors are bacteria and algae that multiply at swimming sites. Sergei Preis, head of the Environmental Technology Research Laboratory at Tallinn University of Technology, explained that the danger depends on the type of bacteria and whether they are pathogenic. He noted that pathogenic microorganisms do not survive long in water, so their presence indicates a nearby pollution source.\n\nKalmus suggested that collecting more samples could improve Estonia's ranking. Weather conditions in Estonia are highly variable, and if samples are taken after heavy rain or wind, or if follow-up samples are not collected due to low overall sample numbers, results can be skewed. At some bathing sites, only four samples are taken per season, while at others, four samples are taken every month.\n\nHuman activity remains the primary cause of pollution at bathing sites. Preis urged residents to be vigilant and report suspected pollution sources, as pollution does not appear on its own. This bathing season, Estonia has 54 official swimming sites open to the public.
