Slovakia faces water infrastructure losses and drought risks

Slovakia is facing significant water management challenges, characterized by high distribution losses and severe agricultural drought. According to a report by the Supreme Audit Office, approximately 30 percent of drinking water is lost within the piping network before reaching consumers. This inefficiency is driven by aging infrastructure, which is estimated to be 68 percent worn out in audited municipalities. The modernization debt for the country's water management sector has exceeded 10 billion euros.

Simultaneously, Greenpeace Slovakia warns of rising food prices due to extreme soil moisture deficits. A study by the Regional Climate Institute indicates that available water for plants dropped from 94 percent in March to just 15.6 percent by early August, significantly below the typical 47.3 percent for this period. In the Nitra region, usable soil water has fallen to 7.5 percent. Experts suggest that the combination of drought and high fossil fuel prices may lead to smaller harvests and increased costs for consumers.