Belgium tops charts with cleanest beaches

Date: 30/05/02

By Laurence Frost

BELGIAN beaches have topped the EU charts for water purity for the third year running, according to a Commission report released yesterday (29 May).

Belgium was the only country to achieve 100 compliance with EU water quality directives, the report reveals, with Greece not far behind at 99.4.

Margot Wallström, the environment commissioner, welcomed what she called a 'consistent trend' in recent years in reducing bacterial contamination from sewage and animal waste.

The bacteria can cause various ailments, such as skin problems and eye infections, as well as gastroenteritis.

But she added: 'We need to keep up the pressure for improvement.'

This year's new entry at the bottom of the charts was France, which supplied data for the first time only to see its beaches given the worst compliance rating of 87.9. Marginally better was Finland, whose 88.3 result represents a fall of almost 10 since last year.

Three countries - Greece, Ireland and the UK - earned 100 ratings for their freshwater bathing zones in rivers and lakes inland.

Belgian beaches have topped the EU charts for water purity for the third year running, according to a European Commission report released on 29 May 2002.