Czech Republic faces severe drought as water reserves drop to historic lows

Severe drought conditions across the Czech Republic have intensified, pushing river basins to critical lows in one of the driest years recorded since 1961. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported a 34 percent drop in average rainfall, severely depleting both groundwater reserves and surface flows.

Povodí Vltavy warned that current hydrological deficits reflect climate scenarios originally projected for 2050. Should water levels in the Orlík reservoir decline by an additional 3.5 meters, operators will draw from emergency reserves at the Slapy dam—a protocol designed for once-in-50-year shortages.

While the Czech government revived its national drought coalition and pledged 4 billion korunas (€160 million) for mitigation and reservoir planning, environmental specialists stressed that constructing new dams cannot resolve water scarcity without systemic agricultural and landscape reforms.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.