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Nitrate in groundwater

This indicator refers to concentrations of nitrate (NO₃) in groundwater measured as milligrams per litre (mg NO₃/L). Data are taken from well samples and aggregated to annual average concentrations for groundwater bodies in Europe. Only complete series after inter/extrapolation are included. The indicator is relatively robust in presenting the overall trend in water quality, however, the distribution of measuring stations over groundwater bodies might mask exceedances of nitrate levels in certain polluted areas. The data stem from the EEA Waterbase database on the status and quality of Europe's rivers.

Figure 7: Nitrate in groundwater, EU, 2003-2019 (mg NO₃ per litre)
Compound annual growth rate (CAGR): 0.2 % per year in the period 2004–2019; 0.5 % per year in the period 2014–2019
Source: EEA (Eurostat (sdg_06_40))

Figure 8: Nitrate in groundwater, by country, 2014 and 2019 (mg NO₃ per litre)
Source: EEA (Eurostat (sdg_06_40))

Phosphate in rivers

This indicator measures the concentration of phosphate (PO₄) per litre in the dissolved phase from water samples from river stations and aggregated to annual average values. At high concentrations phosphate can cause water quality problems, such as eutrophication, by triggering the growth of aquatic plants including algae. The data stem from the EEA Waterbase database on the status and quality of Europe's rivers.

Figure 9: Phosphate in rivers, EU, 2000-2019 (mg PO₄ per litre)
Compound annual growth rate (CAGR): – 1.6 % per year in the period 2004–2019; 2.5 % per year in the period 2014–2019.
Source: EEA (Eurostat (sdg_06_50))

Figure 10: Phosphate in rivers, by country, 2014 and 2019 (mg PO₄ per litre)
Source: EEA (Eurostat (sdg_06_50))

Water exploitation index (WEI+)

The regionalised water exploitation index (WEI+) measures total fresh water use as a percentage of the long-term annual average available water (LTAA) from renewable fresh water resources (groundwater and surface water) at a given time and place. It quantifies how much water is abstracted and how much is returned after use to the environment via basins. The difference between water abstraction and return is regarded as water consumption, and in combination with LTAA, illustrates the pressure on renewable freshwater resources due to water abstraction. In the absence of Europe-wide agreed formal targets, values above 20 % are generally considered to be a sign of water scarcity, while values equal or greater than 40 % indicate situations of severe water scarcity , meaning the use of freshwater resources is unsustainable. Annual calculations of the WEI+ at national level do not reflect uneven spatial and seasonal distribution of resources and may therefore mask water stress which occurs on a seasonal or regional basis. The indicator is a result of data modelling by the EEA based on data from the WISE SoE-Water quantity database (WISE 3) and other open sources (JRC, Eurostat, OECD, FAO) and including gap filling methods.

File:Water exploitation index (WEI+), EU, 2000-2017 (% of renewable water resources).png

Figure 11: Water exploitation index plus (WEI+), EU, 2000-2017 (% of renewable water resources)
Source: EEA (Eurostat (sdg_06_60))

File:Water exploitation index (WEI+), by country, 2012 and 2017 (% of renewable water resources).png

Figure 12: Water exploitation index plus (WEI+), by country, 2012 and 2017 (% of renewable water resources)
Source: EEA (Eurostat (sdg_06_60))

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