Due to a lack of rainfall, the Rhine water level near Düsseldorf has reached a new historic low. On Friday morning, the level briefly dropped to just 14 centimeters, according to data published by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration. The previous record low, recorded in 2018, was 23 centimeters.
Low water levels persist at other locations along the Rhine, such as Koblenz and Cologne, as well as on other rivers like the Danube, significantly disrupting shipping in particular. According to the Federal Institute of Hydrology, water levels in many sections of these waterways dropped below low-water thresholds “unusually early” this year.
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According to the German Weather Service (DWD), no relief in the form of rainfall is in sight for the time being. As the coming week begins, there is at best a chance of some rain in the far north, the DWD announced on Friday. Isolated thunderstorms or severe weather events will not significantly alter the situation either.
In general, the navigable channel—for instance, in the Rhine—is always deeper than the water level indicated by the gauges. According to the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration in Bingen, the zero point on the scales of these gauges—most of which are decades old—is not located at the waterbody’s lowest point.
Due to low water levels, inland vessels are currently able to transport significantly less cargo or are forced to halt operations entirely. These low water levels drive up transport costs for the economy and place a particular burden on industrial sectors that rely on the transport of bulk goods. According to economists, low water levels in German rivers could reduce or even wipe out economic growth this year.
Author: AFP – hex/ilo
Sources: AFP Press Portal