EEA to publish up-to-date water quality maps

The European Environment Agency (EEA) will publish up-to-date maps that include information on water quality and wastewater.

A range of different waterways will be covered by the system, including coastal areas, rivers and lakes, ground water and urban wastewater provisions.

Data for the maps will be supplied by EU member states and it is hoped that industry professionals, as well as those who have an interest in the environment in their areas will benefit from the initiative.

According to the body, the online resource can be easily used to discover which types of pollution are blighting the continent's waters the most.

The standard of wastewater systems appears to differ greatly across Europe, with recent reports by VerticalNews.com suggesting that a lack of suitable facilities in Romanian capital Bucharest makes it one of the "ugliest cities" around.

There have also been problems in Ukraine in the past few weeks, as Russian news provider the Day claimed that inadequate methods of treating dirty water led to 15 people being struck down with cholera in Mariupol.

Posted by Claire Manning