Vistula in Warsaw falls to record 4 cm, ferries suspended

The Vistula River in Warsaw dropped to a record 4 cm at the Bulwary gauge on Tuesday afternoon, hydrologists said, warning the unusually low level is expected to persist for several days.

An aerial view of sand banks as low water levels in the Vistula river continue in Warsaw. As the drought in Poland continues to get worse due to the lack of snow in winter, no rainfall and high temperatures, the main river,Vistula has hit a record low level of 4 cm deep in Poland's Capital, Warsaw.

Photo: Omar Marques / Anadolu/ABACAPRESS.COM

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) reported the historic new low at 2 p.m., one centimeter below the morning reading. The previous mark of 5 cm was first logged at 4:40 a.m. at the same station.

Experts noted the “water level” figure is not the river’s depth. Farther from the bank near the boulevards, the Vistula now measures roughly 2–3 meters deep.

IMGW said levels below periodic minimums are also occurring at more than 20 other stations on rivers including the Warta, Vistula, Kaczawa, Moszczenica, Budzówka, Wieprza, Żylica, Nysa Kłodzka, Narew, Pilica, Wisłoka and Krasna.

Renata Tomusiak, head of Warsaw Waterworks, said the city draws about 70% of its supply from the Vistula and 30% from the Zegrzyński Reservoir. The network can shift flows between zones to cover shortfalls from either source, she added.

Warsaw’s transport authority said ferry services on the Vistula have been suspended since Aug. 12 until further notice because of low water. With the river receding, large amounts of trash have also become visible on the exposed bed.

(jh)

Source: RMF24