Hydrological drought affects southern Poland's rivers and lakes

A severe hydrological drought is affecting the Podkarpacie region in southern Poland, characterized by critically low water levels in rivers and lakes due to prolonged heatwaves and a lack of precipitation.

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW-PIB) has issued warnings for several catchments, including the Soła River, where water flows have dropped below the long-term average low flow (SNQ). This deficit impacts the entire hydrographic system, including the Vistula River and the Goczałkowice reservoir, as well as various mountain streams and cascades.

In Solina Lake, the receding shoreline has exposed large areas of the lakebed, including the foundations of former villages submerged during the construction of the dam in the 1960s. While the shoreline has retreated by dozens of meters, officials from the Solina-Myczkowce Hydroelectric Power Plant note that main areas remain deep enough for water sports and navigation. Local municipalities have begun issuing appeals and formal bans on using tap water for non-essential purposes, such as watering lawns or washing cars.