20 minutes – water levels reach historic lows



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Swiss lake levels reach historic lows due to prolonged drought, and new depressions are also recorded for discharges from other water bodies. According to the Federal Office of the Environment (Bafu), the situation will continue to worsen.

Since measurements began in 1864, only three years have been less watered in Switzerland between April and July, as MeteoSwiss writes in its logbook. In many places, precipitation amounts of about two months were missing.

The lack of rain is accompanied by heat, which is also crucial for the prevailing drought. According to Markus Kuenzi, an employee of the Department of Hydrology of the Federal Office of the Environment (BAFU), the current low water situation has intensified in the central and eastern regions. 39, East, at the request of Keystone-SDA.

Very Low Levels

A low water situation is mentioned when water levels are very low compared to previous measurements. "Many water courses are currently measuring outflows, which occur statistically only every two to five years," continues Künzi.

Not only are small and medium watercourses affected by deep runoff. Even with larger rivers such as Thur, Limmat, Aare, Rhine, Ticino and Reuss, the amounts of discards recorded are close to or below long-term seasonal levels. In the case of the Thur, for example, this month's flows are as low as they have been since July 1949.

Deep water levels also affect the larger ones lakes of central and eastern Switzerland. At very low levels are currently on the whale levels and Lake Zurich. In Boden, Vierwaldstätter and Lake Zug, water levels are as low as today in July 1949.

Deep underground levels

According to Künzi Rainfall is below average in recent months. regularly back. During drought, normal to deep groundwater levels and flows decrease.

Average water levels are still measured in regulated lakes. These include Lake Thun, Lake Maggiore or Lake Jura lakes. High mountain rivers showed increasing flows due to intense melting of glaciers.

According to Künzi, the situation does not improve. "The water scarcity situation will continue to increase in the coming days," he said. Stable or slightly declining water levels are expected in the lakes. As expected also for the weekend, the expected jamming has no significant impact.

(scl / sda)

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