Switzerland is drying out: Glacial water sources are dwindling amid severe drought

Switzerland, a nation often associated with abundant water resources, is grappling with an unprecedented drought. Record high temperatures and extreme dryness have caused water levels in lakes and rivers to plummet, leaving fields parched and threatening water supplies across the country.

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We will temporarily park water here like in a parking lot, which we can then release again for our supply.

Traditionally, glacial meltwater has provided a crucial supplement to water flow during the summer months. However, as glaciers rapidly melt and recede, this vital source is diminishing. The Morteratschgletscher in Graubünden, for example, has significantly shrunk, with its meltwater now flowing predominantly to the Bern side, leaving communities like Salgesch in the Valais region with insufficient water from their usual source, the Raspille river.

Gilles Florey, the municipal president of Salgesch, described the situation as a "crux with water." His village relies on the Raspille for its farmers, winemakers, and gardeners. While recent snowfall in April and May provided some relief this year, Florey noted that the river has completely dried up in the past, highlighting the urgent need for alternatives.

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Fortunately, it snowed again in April and May up there. That's why there's still enough water that we'll probably just about get through this year.

Hydrology experts warn that many Swiss villages and valleys could face similar challenges in the future. Bettina Schaefli, a professor of hydrology at the University of Bern, stated that "all bodies of water are extremely low, except those still fed by glaciers." This stark contrast underscores the growing water scarcity issue, prompting calls for increased water storage infrastructure, including the construction of new reservoirs, to secure the nation's water future.

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All bodies of water are extremely low, except those still fed by glaciers.