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The pressures are particularly high between April and September, when water demand for agriculture, drinking water supply, and tourism or recreation, reaches a seasonal peak. Severe water stress problems are usually observed in areas with intense agricultural activities, which show high shares of irrigated land and high application of irrigation water, fertilisers or pesticides. In this context, agriculture causes water stress because of depletion of natural water sources (e.g. river dry-up, critical decrease of groundwater levels) or because of pollution of local freshwaters (e.g. high concentrations of pollutants, exceeding legally required water quality levels). Agriculture-driven pollution can make water resources non-suitable for other purposes (e.g. drinking water), unless significant costs are paid for their treatment. Severe water stress problems are also observed in coastal areas, because of high concentrations of human activities, including tourism. In such areas, local freshwater availability is usually low compared to the required water supply. In addition, the local water sources are vulnerable to saline intrusion. Therefore, pollution and poor water quality can also be a reason for local water stress issues in various parts of Europe.