Saxony Enters the New Hydrological Year with Low Water Levels

According to the State Environmental Agency, Saxony is entering the new hydrological year with a significant water deficit. The agency reported that water levels in the rivers—particularly the Elbe—remain low. In addition, there is an unusually high groundwater deficit, and not all reservoirs are as full as desired. A hydrological year ends on October 31 and begins anew on November 1.

Low water levels at half of the gauging stations

The State Environmental Agency classifies the current low-water situation as “exceptionally severe.” At half of the 147 gauging stations evaluated in Saxony’s river basins, low water levels were recorded on November 1; another 32 percent were close to the threshold. The flow rate often reached only 10 to 40 percent of the typical monthly average—and the trend continues to decline.

The Elbe River has been particularly hard hit. At the Dresden gauge, water levels fell below the low-water threshold on 142 days; the situation was hardly any better at the gauges in Torgau and Schönau. The cause of this is extreme drought in the Vltava River basin in the Czech Republic, on which the Elbe’s flow depends significantly.

Severe groundwater drought

The groundwater drought has also reached historic proportions, surpassing even the dry years of 2018 through 2020. By the end of October, groundwater levels at 88 percent of the 194 monitoring stations had fallen significantly below the typical monthly level. This deficit also affects rivers and streams: if rainfall remains as low as in 2026, surface waters would be fed primarily by groundwater.

According to the Environmental Agency, whether water levels in Saxony can stabilize again depends on the winter half-year of 2026/27. Sustained rainfall is needed to replenish soil water reservoirs and dams and to allow groundwater to recharge. Occasional rainfall would not be sufficient for this.