Brussels, June 20, 2025 — More than 82% of bathing waters in Portugal, including beaches and rivers, were rated as excellent for bathing in 2024, according to a report released today by the European Environment Agency.
The report on the quality of bathing waters revealed that samples were taken from 673 sites across Portugal, with 512 from coastal areas.
Of these samples, 556 (82.6%) were rated as “excellent,” while 73 (10.8%) were considered “good” and only 9 (1.3%) were rated as “poor.” Twenty samples (3%) were not classified.
The classification is based on two microbiological parameters: the presence of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci bacteria.
Out of the 673 sites analyzed, 633 are undergoing continuous monitoring, and 25 new sites have been identified.
Only two sites experienced changes in water quality for bathing.
Over the past 30 years, 1995 was recorded as having the poorest classification for coastal waters, yet the majority of samples collected still exhibited “excellent” values for bathing.
The collected data encompasses mainland Portugal as well as the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.
What are Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci
Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci are bacteria that can cause infections such as urinary tract infections or gastroenteritis, leading to symptoms like diarrhea or burning sensations when urinating.
These bacteria naturally inhabit the intestines without causing disease; however, they can be easily transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
