CORRECTIV river atlas: Germany's rivers are drying up

The current drought has led to historically low water levels along major German rivers such as the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube. Boats are stranded on dry riverbeds, and exposed sandbanks reveal the severity of the situation. According to an analysis conducted by CORRECTIV using data from 356 monitoring stations across Germany, this crisis is not an isolated incident but rather the result of a long-term decline in river levels. The study, based on data from the federal government's Low Water Information System (NIWIS), shows that over the past 34 years, water levels have dropped significantly at 60 percent of the monitored sites. During the drought periods between 2018 and 2025, nearly 70 percent of these locations recorded water levels lower than they had been in three decades. The situation has reached new lows in several regions. At Kaub on the Rhine, water levels fell to just six centimeters, setting a historical record. Similar extreme conditions are observed on the Danube, where the river’s flow has become critically reduced. These developments highlight a growing concern among environmental experts. Dr. Werner Brack, an ecotoxicologist at the Leibniz Institute for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, described the current state of the rivers as “only slightly diluted wastewater,” emphasizing the alarming degradation of water quality. The impact of this trend extends beyond ecological concerns. It affects economic sectors reliant on river transport and threatens public health through compromised drinking water supplies. On the Rhine near Andernach in Rhineland-Pfalz, water levels dropped to mere centimeters in mid-August, with barely enough flow remaining. This site stands out as one of the most visible examples of river depletion, according to the CORRECTIV analysis. The data reveals that since 1992, the volume of water at this location has declined more sharply than anywhere else along the Rhine. Experts attribute the ongoing crisis primarily to the severe droughts of recent years. Dr. Andreas Musolff, head of hydrogeology at UFZ, noted that the period from 2018 to 2020 was the driest and hottest in over 250 years. These conditions have caused persistent low water levels, leading to increased temperatures in river systems. As a consequence, algal blooms and fish deaths have become more frequent. The effects are not limited to nature alone; the German economy is also suffering. Recent calculations by the ING Bank estimate that the suspension of inland shipping on the Rhine will reduce Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) by approximately 0.3 percentage points this year, as reported by Reuters. The threat to drinking water supply is another critical concern. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) recently estimated the potential economic damage from heat and low water levels at nearly 500 million euros. He warned of the broader economic consequences of climate change, citing crop failures and dangerously low groundwater levels as early signs. Dr. Brack echoed this warning, calling the situation a “human-caused catastrophe.” He emphasized that declining river levels increase the concentration of harmful substances such as pharmaceutical residues and industrial chemicals, which enter rivers via sewage treatment plants. These contaminants pose additional challenges for water suppliers. The German Environment Agency (UBA) notes that as river levels drop, the need for stricter monitoring and purification processes increases, raising operational costs for tap water production. The Rhine, in particular, is under scrutiny for its high levels of unknown and potentially harmful substances. While the exact composition of these pollutants remains unclear, their presence underscores the urgent need for improved water management strategies and regulatory oversight. The situation reflects a complex interplay between environmental degradation, economic stability, and public health, demanding coordinated action from policymakers and stakeholders alike.