Natural water storage levels are decreasing in Europe and across the globe – researchers

All river basins in Europe have seen a decrease in natural water storage levels since 2002, according to Germany’s GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences. In western Europe a continuous decline has been noticeable since around 2014, the researchers said following an analysis of satellite images of the last 24 years.

The researchers said that water shortages are increasing globally. They categorised less than a third of global land area as having “normal” water storage levels in 2025. In 2009, this was still the case for 75 percent of land area. The share of “dry” areas increased to 43 percent from 12 percent in 2009.

A more focused analysis of 61 continental river basins showed that Africa, Australia, and Oceania stood out as the world regions where water storage levels increased. All other regions experienced decreasing storage levels, with the melting of Arctic glaciers being particularly noticeable, according to the researchers. 

In Germany, continuous drought has been clearly observable since 2018, they said. A relatively rainy 2024 allowed Germany’s water levels to recover temporarily. However, decreased precipitation and increased evaporation due to high temperatures in the following year led up to a national water deficit of around 25 billion tonnes by the end of 2025, compared to the average since 2002. 

Germany’s water storage deficit is increasing, as more water is lost than restored countrywide, concluded an earlier report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and environmental NGO NABU in January as well. These shortages disrupt existing ecosystems, and increase risks of severe droughts, flooding, and decreasing water quality and accessibility, thereby creating economic costs of at least 20 to 25 billion euros annually.

These estimates include the direct costs of droughts, such as lower crop yields; damages to infrastructure induced by flooding; and water treatment costs following pollution incidents. They also include the less direct costs as a result of chronic water stress, such as growing competition over water as a scarce resource.

In general, climate change is putting Europe’s water resources under immense pressure. Scientists expect heavy rain and dry periods to happen more often, be more severe, and last longer, leading to floods and droughts. Without swift mitigation and adaptation measures, not only will ecosystems and public water supply be under threat, but so will agriculture, inland navigation, and power production. Around one third of EU territory is exposed to water stress conditions, either permanently or temporarily, the EEA estimates. Water stress refers to time periods when demand exceeds available supply.