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Albania, among the countries with the least safe drinking water in Europe

2026-05-08 12:47:00, Sociale CNA

Albania ranks among the countries with the poorest results for drinking water safety in Europe, after Moldova and Georgia.

According to the Environmental Performance Index, Albania is rated with only 54.1 points out of a maximum of 100 points.

Groundwater is one of the most endangered resources in the European Union.

Over 20% of groundwater in the EU is in poor chemical condition, with harmful substances above permitted limits.

Treating pollution has huge costs, with nitrate alone costing the EU up to €320 billion a year.

The EU limit for nitrates is 50 mg/liter, but this level was exceeded in 14% of groundwater measurement points.

Who has the healthiest tap water?

Europe's huge investments in groundwater cleanup appear to be paying off.

However, Europe's large investments in sewage and groundwater treatment appear to be effective.

According to the Environmental Performance Index, 19 of the 20 countries with the best sanitation and drinking water in the world are European, with Japan being the only exception.

Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom received the maximum score of 100 points for protecting human health from unsafe drinking water and sanitation.

The weakest rates in Europe were recorded in Moldova with 50 points, Georgia with 51.7 and Albania with 54.1.

In the 10 countries with the lowest scores are also three EU countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.

The EU is monitoring water sources more closely, including for hormone-disrupting substances.

Groundwater pollution remains a concern, as it supplies around 65% of drinking water in the EU.

They are also used for about 25% of agricultural irrigation.

According to the Water Atlas, about 80% of the world's wastewater is discharged untreated into rivers and lakes.

Water Atlas has mapped groundwater in Europe according to their chemical status, based on the standards of the EU Water Directive.

The results in some countries are worrying.

In Luxembourg, 79% of mapped groundwater did not achieve good chemical status in 2025.

In the Czech Republic this figure was 55%, in Belgium 41% and in Germany 40%.

Pesticides, PFAS, pharmaceuticals and microplastics remain among the main threats to water quality./ Euronews