Water levels in major European rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, and Po, have fallen to historic lows following severe heat and large-scale forest fires, Deutsche Welle reported. The drop threatens freight transport and agriculture.
Cargo and cruise ships can no longer pass through parts of the Danube. As riverbeds dry up in Hungary, Romania, and Croatia, sunken ships and cars have surfaced again.
In German cities, people can walk across the Rhine in places that usually have strong currents. Water levels in the river may decline further in coming days.
Impact on ecosystems and drinking water
Warmer river water and lower dissolved oxygen levels threaten underwater ecosystems, raising the risk of mass fish kills. Drought, strong sunlight, and high nutrient concentrations from fertilizers also foster harmful algal blooms.
Dropping water levels in tributaries feeding the Rhine and Danube threaten German drinking water supplies. Their reed-covered banks normally act as natural filters, allowing water to seep through soil layers that remove pollutants before reaching underground wells.
Drought weakens this process while pollutant concentrations rise, as industry and treatment plants discharge similar volumes of wastewater into lower river levels.
Rising costs and local water bans
German industry groups estimate climate change could raise water supply costs by up to 30 percent. Up to 14 billion euros in extra investment may be needed to improve water treatment, deepen water mains, and modernize reservoirs to keep water cool and limit microorganisms.
To conserve water, some German cities are banning private water extraction from streams and rivers. In Cologne, violators face fines of up to 50,000 euros.
Prolonged drought and low inflow from the Alps caused the Danube to drop to 39 centimeters in Budapest, letting people walk to bridge pillars.
The Ukrainian Tisza River is also shrinking. Near the city of Solnok, water levels hit a record low of minus 302 centimeters, exposing oak bridge piles built over 460 years ago.
