Drought Is Draining Rivers and Reservoirs Across Europe — and It's Already Costing Billions

Water levels on the Rhine River in Germany have dropped so low that cargo ships can no longer carry full loads, slowing trade on one of Europe's most important waterways [252459]. The Rhine is Germany's main shipping route for coal, chemicals, and manufactured goods. When water levels fall, ships must carry less weight to avoid running aground, meaning more trips are needed to move the same amount of cargo — raising costs and causing delays [252459].

The problem is not confined to Germany. In a separate development, water levels on the Rhine dropped to record lows after Germany faced an unusually dry September, disrupting shipping on one of Europe's busiest waterways [253127]. Experts link the shrinking river to climate change, which is making droughts more frequent and severe in Europe. The German government is under pressure to find solutions, but dredging the river or redesigning ships takes years and costs billions [252459].

Norway is facing its own water crisis. Many of the country's water reservoirs have been drained far below normal levels for this time of year, raising concerns about the security of electricity supply and power prices [252698].

In the Pacific, Fiji may soon ration electricity as a long drought lowers water levels at its hydropower dams, a government minister warned [253563]. The dry conditions have reduced the water needed to generate power. Hydropower is a major source of electricity in Fiji, and power rationing means cutting or limiting electricity supply to homes and businesses during set hours. The minister did not say when rationing might begin, and officials are monitoring water levels and rainfall in the coming weeks [253563].

The low water is a recurring problem. In 2018, a similar drought forced factories to slow production and pushed up prices for fuel and goods across Germany [252459].