Lithuania

Surface water bodies (by number)

%
in good or high
ecological status

%
in good
chemical status

Groundwater bodies (by area)

%
in good
quantitative status

%
in good
chemical status

has a total population of million inhabitants and a surface area of thousand km². Its territory is divided into national River Basin Districts (RBDs). The statistics, charts, and maps below are based on data electronically reported by for the Third River Basin Management Plan (2021). For more information, click on "Sources" beneath each graph.

Basic country information

To comply with the Water Framework Directive, has developed the 3rd River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs), with the goal of achieving good status in surface water bodies and groundwater bodies with a total groundwater area of km².

Number of surface water bodies

Number of groundwater bodies for a total of Km²

Number of surface water bodies by water body category, as reported in the 3rd RBMP
Number of surface water bodies (%)

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Surface water bodies: ecological & chemical status

Out of the total surface water bodies in :

%

did not achieve

good ecological status or potential

%

did not achieve

good chemical status

%

were in

unknown chemical status

Ecological status of surface water bodies in the 3rd River Basin Management Plan, by water body category
Number of surface water bodies (%)

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Map of the ecological status of surface water bodies in the 3rd River Basin Management Planby
Water body category

More about Ecological and Chemical status of surface water bodies

Ecological status: according to the Water Framework Directive, is an expression of the quality of the structure and functioning of the water body. It shows the combined impact of pressures such as pollution, habitat degradation and climate change.

Chemical status: the Water Framework Directive requires assessment of the chemical status of surface waters. Assessment is based on a list of priority substances. EU-wide standards are set for these substances. If concentrations exceed the standard in a water body, the water body fails to meet good chemical status.

Chemical status without uPBT: Chemical status is heavily affected by widespread contamination of a few ubiquitous, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances (known as “uPBTs”). A large portion of surface water bodies in the EU27 would be in good chemical status, if these substances did not pollute the environment

Groundwater bodies: Quantitative & chemical status

Out of the total area of km² of groundwater bodies in :

%

did not achieve

good quantitative status

%

did not achieve

good chemical status

%

were in

unknown chemical status

Caution is needed when comparing the above percentages on the quantitative and chemical status of groundwater bodies with similar percentages reported in the official compliance assessment of the European Commission on the implementation of the WFD in the country. The above results are based on the total area of the groundwater bodies, whereas the results in reported in the compliance assessment are based on the total number of the groundwater bodies

Quantitative status of groundwater bodies in the 3rd River Basin Management Plan
Areas of groundwater bodies (%)

Map of quantitative status of groundwater bodies in the 3rd River Basin Management Plan
Groundwater bodies

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More about Quantitative and Chemical status of groundwater bodies

Quantitative status: the Water Framework Directive requires assessment of the quantitative status of groundwaters. Assessment is based on the changes in groundwater level. If the groundwater resources are over-abstracted, so that the amount of water used is more than that which is recharged, the groundwater body fails to meet good quantitative status.

Chemical status: the Water Framework Directiverequires assessment of the chemical status of groundwaters. Assessment is based on threshold values. EU-wide thresholds are set for nitrates and pesticides. Countries need to consider other pollutants and set thresholds for those, if they could impact the quality of surface waters such as wetlands or rivers. If concentrations exceed the threshold in a groundwater body, the water body fails to meet good chemical status.

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Significant pressures on surface water and groundwater bodies

Intense and harmful human activities put significant pressure on surface and groundwater, causing a gap between the objective of good status and the actual status of a water body bodies (e.g. due to water pollution, water depletion, alteration of water and sediment flows). has identified the following pressures as the most significant on its water bodies.

Significant pressures in surface water bodies in the 3rd River Basin Management Plan
Number of surface water bodies (%)

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More about WFD pressures' definiton

Pressure	Definition
Point source of pollution	Pollution from a stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged, such as an industrial site, aquaculture site or a contaminated site. Also, any single identifiable source of pollution, such as a sewer pipe, a ditch, an ore pit, etc.
Diffuse source of pollution	Pollution from widespread activities over a broader area, which have no discrete source, such as pollution from fertilisers and pesticides over an agricultural area, pollution from aquaculture, forestry and mining activities, contaminated sites, etc.
Diffuse - Atmospheric deposition	Pollution from airborne pollutants that settle on surfaces, such as surface water, soil, vegetation or indoor surfaces, as a result of dry or wet processes in the environment (e.g. wind, rain). Airborne pollutants originate from fuel combustion, industrial, and agricultural processes.
Abstraction or flow diversion	Abstraction is the process of taking water from a source (e.g. surface water or groundwater), either temporarily or permanently. Flow diversions and water transfers are included. Excessive abstraction can lead to rivers drying up or the level of groundwater aquifers reducing unacceptably.
Hydromorphology (Physical alteration of channel/bed/riparian area/shore OR Dams, barriers and locks OR Hydrological alteration OR Hydromorphological alteration)	Changes to the physical features of a surface water body, such as its shape, profile / depth, route, etc., which is affecting the natural flow conditions of water and sediments. Such changes can be triggered by human activities and infrastructure, including excessive water abstraction, land drainage, river straightening, canal lining, construction of dams, barriers, locks, bridges and transport works, etc.
Groundwater – Alteration of water level or volume	Human activities that alter the level or volume of groundwater in order to carry out an underground activity (typically mining or large civil works). This does not include the alteration of the water level due to excessive abstraction of groundwater (current or past), which is captured under the category of ‘Abstraction’.
Introduced species and diseases	Accidental or deliberate introduction of animals, plants or diseases into a natural environment where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment. It is a major threat to native plants and animals and a major cause of biodiversity loss. Transport, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and recreation are common activities related to it.
Exploitation or removal of animals or plants	Deliberate exploitation or removal of animals or plants from water bodies, such as commercial fishing, recreational/sports angling, commercial harvesting of plants or algae.
Litter or fly tipping	Pollution from illegal waste deposits on land areas, litter from ships, etc.
Groundwater - Recharges	Pollution caused from groundwater recharge schemes.
Anthropogenic pressure - Historical pollution	Legacy pollution by past activities which have ceased and no longer exist.
Anthropogenic pressure - Other	Other known pressure related to human activities, which is not included in the other categories.
Anthropogenic pressure - Unknown	Unknown pressure related to human activities.

Protected areas

has identified and reported different types of protected areas, which are associated with surface and groundwater bodies. One of the aims of the Water Framework Directive is to ensure that all necessary measures are taken, so that the associated surface and groundwater bodies meet all those conditions required to prevent harm to the protected areas (e.g. due to pollution, low water flows, change in nutrient and sediment flows).

Surface water bodies associated with protected areas in the 3rd River Basin Management Plan
Number of surface water bodies (%)

More on Protected Area types

Type of Protected Arean	Definition
Drinking water protected area	According to Article 7.2 of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60), EU Member States are expected to designate protected areas with additional requirements for the quality surface water or groundwater, because this is intended for human consumption after abstraction and treatment (e.g. water used for drinking, showering, cooking). The water treatment regime applied shall result in water that meets the requirements of the Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184).
Natura 2000 protected area	According to the Birds Directive (2009/147), EU Member States are expected to designate Special Protected Areas (SPAs). Also, under the Habitats Directive (1992/43), they are expected to designate Sites of Community Importance (SCI) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Collectively these form the EU-wide ecological network of Natura 2000 protected areas, covering the most valuable and threatened species and habitats in Europe. The Natura 2000 network is the contribution of the EU to the EMERALD network of sites designated under the Bern Convention.
Nitrate vulnerable zone	According to the Nitrates Directive (1991/676), EU Member States are expected to designate Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) to monitor the quality of waters suffering from eutrophication or waters that could contain more than 50 mg/l of nitrates due to agricultural activities. They shall also identify areas that drain into polluted waters or at risk of pollution. EU Member States can also choose to apply measures to the whole territory, instead of designating specific NVZs.
Nationally-designated areas (CDDA)	Nationally designated areas for nature conservation are created by each country alone, based on their specific national legislative instruments. This type of protected areas includes a variety of designation types with different protection regimes and regulations.
Nutrient sensitive area	According to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (2024/3019) (UWWTD), EU Member States are expected to designate areas sensitive to eutrophication due to the nutrients (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus) contained in the discharges of treated urban waste water. EU Member States can also choose to apply measures to the whole territory, instead of designating specific sensitive areas.
Bathing water	According to the Bathing Water Directive (2006/7), EU Member States are expected to designate surface waters that can be used for bathing, except for swimming pools and spa pools, confined waters subject to treatment or used for therapeutic purposes and confined waters artificially separated from surface water and groundwater. The designated bathing waters shall be monitored and assessed for their suitability for bathing, and relevant information shall be disseminated to the public.
Freshwater fish designated water	According to the Freshwater Fish Directive (2006/44/EC), which was repealed on 22/12/2013, EU Member States were expected to designate surface waters for the protection of economically significant fish species. According to the Water Framework Directive (2000/60), the same level of protection should be maintained for these fish species through the inclusion of such designated areas as protected areas under the Water Framework Directive.
Shellfish designated water	According to the Shellfish Directive (2006/113/EC), which was repealed on 22/12/2013, EU Member States were expected to designate surface waters for the protection of economically significant shellfish species. According to the Water Framework Directive (2000/60), the same level of protection should be maintained for these shellfish species through the inclusion of such designated areas as protected areas under the Water Framework Directive.

Coordination with other Directives

Floods Directive

Flood risk management is part of resilient water management. Climate change affects the condition of our water bodies and is linked to prolonged droughts and extreme floods. In addition, rising sea levels increase the risk of coastal flooding, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion into groundwater. The Floods Directive explicitly requires considering flood protection measures’ impact on the condition of water bodies, and the impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods. Find out more about it in Floods country profile (soon available).

Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Freshwater and marine ecosystems are interconnected. Riverine pollution, disruption to sediment flows and water shortages all have a very strong impact on the health of marine ecosystems, particularly the coastal ones, and the viability of social and economic activities that depend on them, such as transport, fisheries, aquaculture or tourism.

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Remarks

In February 2025, European Commission published 7th implementation report on the state of water in the European Union. Covering the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the reports highlight the progress made to improve the state of EU water bodies over the past six years. They also identify key areas where further efforts are needed. The report offers valuable insights into the condition of EU freshwater and the actions taken to improve it, as well as measures to reduce flood risks. They also provide country-specific information and tailored recommendations to support continued progress and sustainable water management across Europe. Find out more at Implementation Reports - European Commission.

Go to EC Implementation Reports