Bulgaria holds the fourth position in Southeast Europe when it comes to the safety of tap water, according to data reported by BGNES based on international environmental indicators.

The strongest results in the region are recorded in Greece, where tap water quality is considered the safest among Balkan countries. Slovenia and Croatia also rank highly, reflecting comparatively strong water standards in the western Balkans.

At the same time, countries in the region that are outside the European Union are described as having significantly lower performance in drinking water quality and sanitation, placing them among the weaker performers in Europe.

On a global scale, Bulgaria is ranked 37th with a score of 68.40 points. Croatia is slightly ahead, occupying 36th place with 70.30 points. Greece, the regional leader, is placed much higher globally at 12th position with 98.20 points.

The assessment is based on the Environmental Performance Index, which shows a strong European dominance in drinking water and sanitation standards. According to the data, 19 of the top 20 countries worldwide in this category are European, with Japan being the only non-European country in the group.

Several Western and Northern European countries receive maximum scores of 100 points, including Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. These scores reflect the highest level of protection against health risks related to drinking water and sanitation systems.

At the lower end of the European ranking are Moldova, Georgia, and Albania, with scores of 50, 51.7, and 54.1 points respectively. The data also places several EU members among the continent's weaker performers, including Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania, which score 59.1, 58.4, and 56 points.

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