Few Europeans suffer from the water shortages and poor water quality experienced by people in many other parts of the world. However, while many parts of Europe are currently well-provided with freshwater, water resources are unevenly distributed between and within countries. Pressures resulting from human activities affect the quality of water resources in many areas of Europe, and thus drinking water quality is still of concern. Water stress exists in many places in Europe, resulting in serious water shortages, flooding, pollution and ecosystem damage. Climate change may also play a role, especially in coastal areas where flooding may disrupt sanitation infrastructure and thereby contaminate watercourses. Although there has been much improvement in water quality since the first European law on bathing water twenty years ago, there has been little progress in the integrated management of water resources. The goal of this publication is to produce a clear overview, through a set of graphics, maps and other illustrations, on the state of freshwater in Europe.