Switzerland faces water shortages into next summer

Switzerland is likely to enter next summer with depleted water reserves after a dry winter and summer left rivers, lakes and groundwater levels low, water researcher Klaus Lanz told SRF.

Little new groundwater formed because the previous winter brought limited precipitation, followed by a dry summer. At the same time, large amounts of groundwater were drawn for drinking supplies, agriculture and other uses, Lanz said. Some towns and cities are now at their limits, particularly those that rely on spring water.

Lanz said it would take months of rain to refill water reserves by spring. Brief showers expected this week will not make up the shortfall. He also said September and October are typically among the driest months of the year, making it unlikely that reserves will recover by next spring.

Water levels remain low across Swiss waterways, and some boats on Lake Constance were still stranded on dry ground in mid-September. Lanz said water resources should be used more carefully and called for better protection of waterways. “We cannot afford to keep assuming that water in Switzerland is available in any quantity at any time,” he said.