[REVISION HISTORY]

Czech Republic drought and water crisis

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-03 19:37 UTC → 2026-09-05 12:50 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The extreme drought in the Czech Republic has escalated, with water levels in major reservoirs and river basins reaching critical points. The Orlík Reservoir has seen its lowest inflow in 44 years, while the Vír Reservoir sits approximately eight metres below its typical summer level, having dropped more than 11 metres since the start of the year. ~~Dam manager Antonín Hájek warned that Vír could reach further restriction levels by September if conditions persist.~~ River systems are facing severe depletion. In the Elbe (Labe) basin, the riverbed is exposed in Ústí nad Labem and Děčín. Hydrologist Tomáš Fryč noted that water has disappeared from previously stable basins, including the Želivka watershed, Vlašimská Blanice, and Rakovnický potok. The Lužnice river is described as “practically dry,” and the Sázava remains nearly unnavigable. This has devastated the water-tourism sector; Petr Ptáček of the Association of Water Tourism and Sports (AVTS) reported that paddlers have vanished from the Lužnice and Sázava, causing significant revenue losses for operators. In response to the Orlík Reservoir’s declining levels, Povodí Vltavy has implemented a historic management strategy. ~~To maintain necessary flow rates in the lower Vltava and Elbe rivers, the Slapy Reservoir will be used~~ Due to ~~subsidize~~ the ~~deficit. While the Vrané dam continues its discharge,~~ reservoir's water level dropping approximately 15 metres below normal, the Orlík discharge will be limited to approximately 15 cubic metres per second—essentially only what flows into ~~it—with Slapy providing~~ it. To maintain the ~~remaining 25~~ required 40 cubic metres per second ~~required~~ for ~~environmental,~~ drinking water, ecological functions, and wastewater dilution ~~standards.~~ at the Vrané waterworks, the Slapy Reservoir will supplement the deficit by providing 25 cubic metres per second. This unprecedented measure will impose restrictions on navigation and recreational use at Slapy. While hydroelectric power generation is being adjusted to match available volumes, ČEZ noted that modernizations allow plants to operate more efficiently at lower flows. The Temelín Nuclear Power Plant remains unaffected as it utilizes cooling towers rather than river flow.

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