Spain · river bathing waters
River swimming in Spain: 2025 water quality
Spain reported 164 river bathing waters for the 2025 season. 35.4% were classified Excellent — 51.2 points below the 86.6% for all 2,296 bathing waters in the country — and 28 were Poor. 19 sites have been Excellent in every season from 2015 to 2025. Among the 8 countries with at least 30 river bathing waters, Spain ranks 7 by Excellent share.
164
river bathing waters
35.4%
Excellent in 2025
28
Poor in 2025
Annual, not live: the 2025 class summarises several seasons of sampling. It does not show today’s pollution, algae or bans.
Find the nearest Excellent river to you →
Map of river bathing waters
Excellent 58Good 64Sufficient 8Poor 28Not classified 6
How river bathing waters in Spain rated since 2015
Counts for the sites in today’s 2025 inventory; the Excellent share is calculated over classified sites only.
| Season | Classified | Excellent | Excellent share | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 158 | 58 | 36.7% | 28 |
| 2024 | 153 | 64 | 41.8% | 21 |
| 2023 | 148 | 62 | 41.9% | 21 |
| 2022 | 144 | 61 | 42.4% | 15 |
| 2021 | 139 | 58 | 41.7% | 12 |
| 2020 | 125 | 56 | 44.8% | 7 |
| 2019 | 134 | 58 | 43.3% | 11 |
| 2018 | 130 | 51 | 39.2% | 19 |
| 2017 | 116 | 47 | 40.5% | 13 |
| 2016 | 110 | 48 | 43.6% | 9 |
| 2015 | 106 | 45 | 42.5% | 10 |
Most consistent Excellent rivers
19 sites were Excellent in all eleven seasons. Ordered by the length of the unbroken Excellent run ending in 2025.
- BALSA CELA L?CAR PM1 11 seasons
- DESEMBOCADURA RIO MI?O TOMI?O PM1 11 seasons
- DESEMBOCADURA RIO MI?O TUI PM2 11 seasons
- MANANTIAL FUENCALIENTE ORCE PM1 11 seasons
- RIO ALMOFREI COTOBADE PM1 11 seasons
- RIO ARAGON CARCASTILLO PM1 11 seasons
- RIO BULLAQUE PIEDRABUENA 03 PM1 11 seasons
- RIO CASAL ENTRIMO PM1 11 seasons
- RIO CASTRO NEDA PM1 11 seasons
- RIO CUERVO SANTA MAR?A DEL VAL PM1 11 seasons
- RIO DEZA LAL?N PM1 11 seasons
- RIO MAGROS BEARIZ PM1 11 seasons
- RIO MATARRA?A BECEITE PM1 11 seasons
- RIO MI?O LUGO PM3 11 seasons
- RIO R?O CABANELAS COTOBADE PM1 11 seasons
- RIO TAJO ZAOREJAS PM1 11 seasons
- RIO TIOIRA BEARIZ PM1 11 seasons
- RIO VERDUGO LAMA (A) PM1 11 seasons
- RIO VERDUGO PONTE CALDELAS PM1 11 seasons
- MANANTIAL HEDIONDA CASARES PM1 10 seasons
- RIO AZUMARA CASTRO DE REI PM1 10 seasons
- RIO UREDERRA ALL?N PM1 10 seasons
- RIO ALMOFREI COTOBADE 03 PM1 9 seasons
- RIO R?O TRONCEDA MONDO?EDO PM1 9 seasons
- RIO RABAL CHANDREXA DE QUEIXA PM1 9 seasons
- RIO TAMBRE AMES PM3 9 seasons
- MANANTIAL RIO TUEJAR TU?JAR PM1 8 seasons
- RIO BEBA MAZARICOS PM1 8 seasons
- RIO ESCABAS CA?AMARES PM1 8 seasons
- RIO TEA COVELO PM1 8 seasons
- MANANTIAL FUENCALIENTE HU?SCAR PM1 7 seasons
- RIO DE CALVELO COTOBADE PM1 7 seasons
- RIO MI?O TUI PM1 7 seasons
- RIO ARAGON SUBORDAN VALLE DE HECHO PM1 6 seasons
- RIO RIVEIRA GUDI?A (A) PM1 6 seasons
- GARGANTA DE LOS CABALLEROS NAVALONGUILLA PM1 5 seasons
- RIO TERA VILLAN?ZAR PM1 5 seasons
- RIO VALDER?AS AVI?N PM1 5 seasons
- BARRANCO DE LA FOZ DE BENASA NAVASCU?S/NABASKOZE PM1 4 seasons
- RIO BOROSA SANTIAGO-PONTONES PM1 4 seasons
- RIO GUADALQUIVIR VILLANUEVA DEL ARZOBISPO PM1 4 seasons
- RIO JANDULA AND?JAR PM1 4 seasons
- RIO MIJARES MONTANEJOS PM1 4 seasons
- RIO TEA MONDARIZ 02 PM1 4 seasons
- RIO CABRAS LAZA 02 PM1 3 seasons
- RIO GUADALQUIVIR CAZORLA PM2 3 seasons
- RIO LI ARES ESTRADA (A) PM1 3 seasons
- RIO NEIRA L?NCARA PM1 3 seasons
- PISCINA FLUVIAL RIO AYODAR FUENTES DE AY DAR PM1 2 seasons
- RIO BULLAQUE PIEDRABUENA 04 PM1 2 seasons
- RIO EO CASTRO CALDELAS PM1 2 seasons
- RIO MI?O R?BADE PM1 2 seasons
- RIO ULLA ESTRADA (A) PM1 2 seasons
- BA OS RIO VILLAHERMOSA ARGELITA PM1 1 season
- PISCINA FLUVIAL MOLINO VALLAT PM1 1 season
- RIO LADRA BEGONTE PM1 1 season
- RIO SUBORDAN VALLE DE HECHO PM1 1 season
- RIO ULDEMO BECEITE PM1 1 season
Rivers rated Poor in 2025
- ARROYO CIMORRO NAVALACRUZ PM1 Poor in 7 of 11 classified seasons
- GARGANTA RIO TAJO VALDECA?AS DE TAJO PM1 Poor in 2 of 9 classified seasons
- RIO AGUASCEBAS VILLACARRILLO PM1 Poor in 3 of 3 classified seasons
- RIO ALBERCHE ALDEA DEL FRESNO PM1 Poor in 2 of 11 classified seasons
- RIO ANNA ANNA PM1 Poor in 5 of 11 classified seasons
- RIO ARA FISCAL 02 PM1 Poor in 9 of 10 classified seasons
- RIO ARRAGO CADALSO PM1 Poor in 1 of 8 classified seasons
- RIO BULLAQUE PORZUNA PM1 Poor in 1 of 1 classified seasons
- RIO BULLAQUE ROBLEDO (EL) 02 PM1 Poor in 4 of 4 classified seasons
- RIO BULLAQUE ROBLEDO (EL) PM1 Poor in 4 of 8 classified seasons
- RIO BURBIA TORAL DE LOS VADOS PM2 Poor in 5 of 5 classified seasons
- RIO FURELOS MELIDE PM1 Poor in 10 of 11 classified seasons
- RIO JERTE NAVACONCEJO 02 PM1 Poor in 5 of 5 classified seasons
- RIO JERTE NAVACONCEJO 03 PM1 Poor in 5 of 5 classified seasons
- RIO JERTE NAVACONCEJO PM1 Poor in 5 of 5 classified seasons
- RIO JERTE PLASENCIA PM2 Poor in 3 of 11 classified seasons
- RIO LADRILLAR LADRILLAR PM1 Poor in 1 of 3 classified seasons
- RIO LOS ANGELES PINOFRANQUEADO PM1 Poor in 6 of 8 classified seasons
- RIO MERUELO MOLINASECA PM1 Poor in 3 of 5 classified seasons
- RIO NELA VILLARCAYO DE MERINDAD DE CASTILLA LA VIEJA PM1 Poor in 3 of 3 classified seasons
- RIO ORBIGO LLAMAS DE LA RIBERA 02 PM1 Poor in 3 of 11 classified seasons
- RIO RIVERA DE USAGRES USAGRE PM1 Poor in 3 of 10 classified seasons
- RIO TAJO TRILLO PM1 Poor in 1 of 10 classified seasons
- RIO TAMBRE TRAZO PM1 Poor in 3 of 11 classified seasons
- RIO TRUEBA ESPINOSA DE LOS MONTEROS PM1 Poor in 1 of 1 classified seasons
- RIO TUERTO VILLAOBISPO DE OTERO PM1 Poor in 3 of 4 classified seasons
- RIVERA DE ACEBO ACEBO 02 PM1 Poor in 2 of 11 classified seasons
- RIVERA DE ACEBO HOYOS PM1 Poor in 2 of 2 classified seasons
Changes from 2024 to 2025
Improved (15)
- BA OS RIO VILLAHERMOSA ARGELITA PM1 Good → Excellent
- PANTANO LA TORRASA ESPOT PM1 Sufficient → Good
- RIO ARAXES BETELU PM1 Sufficient → Good
- RIO CINCA PU?RTOLAS PM1 Sufficient → Good
- RIO LADRA BEGONTE PM1 Good → Excellent
- RIO MI?O OUTEIRO DE REI PM1 Sufficient → Good
- RIO ORBIGO LLAMAS DE LA RIBERA PM1 Poor → Sufficient
- RIO SUBORDAN VALLE DE HECHO PM1 Good → Excellent
Declined (18)
- BARRANCO RIO ARAGON SUBORDAN VALLE DE HECHO PM1 Excellent → Good
- GARGANTA RIO MORO VIANDAR DE LA VERA PM1 Good → Sufficient
- GARGANTA RIO TAJO VALDECA?AS DE TAJO PM1 Sufficient → Poor
- PISCINA FLUVIAL SIL CARBALLEDA DE VALDEORRAS PM1 Excellent → Good
- RIO ARRAGO CADALSO PM1 Sufficient → Poor
- RIO BERGANTES AGUAVIVA PM1 Excellent → Good
- RIO BULLAQUE PIEDRABUENA 02 PM1 Excellent → Good
- RIO CABRAS LAZA PM1 Good → Sufficient
River bathing waters by autonomous community
| Autonomous community | Sites | Excellent | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galicia | 58 | 53.4% | 2 |
| Castile and León | 24 | 8.3% | 7 |
| Extremadura | 18 | 0% | 11 |
| Valencian Community | 14 | 35.7% | 1 |
| Castilla–La Mancha | 13 | 38.5% | 4 |
| Andalusia | 13 | 61.5% | 1 |
| Aragon | 11 | 36.4% | 1 |
| Navarre | 8 | 37.5% | 0 |
Autonomous communities with at least three river bathing waters; counts include only this water type.
Near which major cities?
Sites within 60 km (straight line) of a major city covered by our city guides:
- Valencia 6 river bathing waters within 60 km
- Madrid 3 river bathing waters within 60 km
- Alicante 1 river bathing waters within 60 km
Rivers compared across Europe
| # | Country | Sites | Excellent | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 37 | 73% | 0 |
| 2 | Czechia | 91 | 72.5% | 0 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 78 | 69.2% | 4 |
| 4 | Portugal | 118 | 43.2% | 8 |
| 5 | France | 444 | 41% | 62 |
| 6 | Poland | 100 | 40% | 10 |
| 7 | Spain | 164 | 35.4% | 28 |
| 8 | Hungary | 45 | 33.3% | 1 |
Countries with at least 30 river bathing waters. Networks differ in size and in how sites are designated, so this is a descriptive comparison, not a safety ranking.
Quick answers
- How many river bathing waters in Spain are rated Excellent?
- 58 of 164 (35.4%) in the 2025 EEA classification.
- Which rivers in Spain have the best long-term record?
- 19 sites were Excellent in every season from 2015 to 2025, for example BALSA CELA L?CAR PM1, DESEMBOCADURA RIO MI?O TOMI?O PM1, DESEMBOCADURA RIO MI?O TUI PM2. See the full list.
- Can I check current conditions?
- The annual class is not a live status. Current results and bans are published on NÁYADE (Ministry of Health). Each site page on BathingWaterFinder also shows a weather forecast, including heavy-rain warnings.
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