Lake Montbel in southern France at the foot of the Pyrenees usually holds about 60 million cubic meters of water at the end of winter, but this year the lake has less than 80% of its normal water supply.
Photo: Christian Bellavia/SIPA/SCANPIX
Valdis Bērziņš, “Latvijas Avīze”, JSC “Latvijas Mediji”
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Last summer, many European countries experienced an unprecedented drought, which reduced agricultural yields by tens of billions of euros and made it difficult to transport goods on waterways, including the largest European rivers – the Danube, Rhine, Loire, Vistula and Po – while many smaller rivers dried up almost completely. Meteorologists warn that the dry summer in Europe could repeat itself this year.
Winter did not bring salvation
Farmers are worried by the fact that after the dry and hot summer last year, winter did not bring salvation, as the countries of Southern Europe experience drought this time of year as well. Groundwater and man-made water bodies, which are normally replenished in winter and spring, have remained alarmingly dry in many areas in the agricultural heartland of Europe in France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria and even Poland. Lake Montbell in southern France at the foot of the Pyrenees usually has about 60 million cubic meters of water at the end of winter, which is used in summer for irrigation of fields and water sports. This year, the lake has less than 80% of its normal water supply due to extremely little snow and rain during the winter. In northern Italy, tourists can walk to the small island of San Biagio, which is usually only accessible by boat from Lake Garda, where the water level is 70 centimeters lower than average. The explanation is simple – there was 63% less snow in the Alps this year than usual. In Germany, the shallow water in the Rhine disrupted barge traffic with Central European countries as early as March, forcing the halving of watercraft loads.
In the Spanish region of Catalonia, the lack of water has been felt for the third year. Watering of parks has been suspended in Barcelona. Spain has been affected by drought since January 2022. In Catalonia, a law was passed this week to limit water consumption in agriculture by 40%, in industry by 15%, and to reduce the amount of water allocated per day per inhabitant from 250 liters to 230 liters. Meteorologists note that drought has always been characteristic of Spain, but changes have taken place in recent decades. The drought in the south of the country has become longer, but the rainy periods are shorter, but very intense. Very heavy rain is less useful for irrigating fields because it washes away the fertile topsoil and causes damage. Spanish Environment Minister Teresa Ribera has warned that the country should be prepared for much longer periods of extreme drought and unprecedented rains and floods. The Spanish government has set aside 23 billion euros to improve infrastructure for water treatment, modernization of irrigation systems and flood risk management.
Drought has taken over Europe since 2018
In Austria, scientists from the Graz University of Technology, using satellite data to analyze groundwater reserves, have concluded that drought has taken over Europe in many places since 2018, and the water situation is of great concern. The researchers admitted that in the past it was unimaginable that there could be a problem with water in Europe, especially in Germany or Austria. The World Climate Research Center has announced that droughts in the northern hemisphere were 20 times more likely due to human-induced climate change. Scientists warn that periods of extreme climate change are becoming more frequent due to global warming. “In some regions of Europe, the long-term lack of precipitation is such that the amount of water will not be able to return to previous levels until the beginning of summer,” says Andrea Toretti, a researcher at the European Drought Observatory. According to experts, the next few months will be very important. Satellite data shows that the chance of rain remains low in many areas of Spain, northern Italy, southern Germany and almost all of France, where drought is already prevailing. France recently recorded 32 days without significant rainfall, the longest period since 1959. According to Météo-France, there is very little chance of precipitation at least until the end of the month.
Water consumption restrictions begin in France
Municipalities in the basins of France’s seven major rivers have been ordered to begin curbing water use, as the government urgently draws up a crisis plan to deal with water shortages. France’s Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Bechaux, has warned that we will have to live with approximately 40% less water in the coming years. He added that the country is already in a “state of alarm” and that the restrictions in several districts are completely justified.
“The situation is more serious than last year at this time,” Beshu said. People in four southern counties are banned from filling swimming pools or washing cars, but farmers must cut water consumption by up to half.
Echoing the words he used to describe the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a “saturation plan” to save water and warned that the “time of plenty” is over. “We will all have to be very careful,” Macron said. The government plans to modernize the irrigation system in agriculture, which consumes 80% of the water used in the summer, promoting wastewater treatment and reducing water losses through leaks.
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