Water stress across parts of the European Union is reaching critical levels despite the bloc's relatively low average freshwater usage rate, with Mediterranean countries facing the greatest pressure during peak summer months.

The European Union's overall freshwater usage rate stands at 5.8%, but regional disparities are significant. A country enters a "warning zone" when it uses 20% of its available freshwater resources, according to the data, says Euro News.

Several southern European countries exceed that threshold during the summer period. Cyprus operates in what has been described as a "constant emergency," using 72% of its freshwater resources annually and up to 92% during summer months. Malta reaches a summer water stress level of 67%.

Other countries also record elevated levels during peak seasonal demand, including Greece at 37%, Romania at 34%, Portugal at 31%, Italy at 27%, and Spain at 26.5%.

Access to clean water remains a challenge for some residents across the bloc. Approximately one in 10 European Union citizens struggles to access safe and clean water, though the causes differ among countries.

In some cases, access problems are linked directly to resource scarcity. Cyprus and Greece illustrate this pattern, with poor access affecting 36.5% and 31.5% of residents respectively, alongside high levels of resource exploitation.

In other countries, including Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia and Ireland, access problems are attributed to ageing infrastructure and failures in supply systems rather than shortages of available water resources. These countries maintain relatively low exploitation rates despite facing difficulties in water delivery.

By contrast, France, Portugal and Spain have maintained water access issues below the European Union average of 9%, suggesting that distribution systems may help limit the impact of environmental pressures.

The issue is being driven by multiple factors, including climate change and drought, both of which are expected to intensify water shortages through at least 2030.

In Cyprus, rapid population growth has added pressure on available resources. Authorities have responded by installing desalination plants aimed at meeting drinking water demand from both residents and tourists.