Croatia’s Danube and Drava rivers fall to lowest levels in almost 200 years

River Drava, Osijek – illustration (Photo: Nick Savchenko/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Croatia’s major rivers have fallen to their lowest levels in almost 200 years, with authorities warning there are currently no signs of a recovery as the country heads into the peak of an intense heatwave.

Speaking to N1 television, Croatian Waters (Hrvatske vode) Director General Zoran Đuroković said new historic low water level records were being set on both the Danube and Drava rivers.

The Danube reached a historic low of 144 centimetres, while the Drava at Osijek measured minus 189 centimetres, close to the all-time record of minus 192 centimetres. Water level measurements in Osijek date back to 1827, meaning conditions are now among the lowest recorded in nearly two centuries.

Đuroković said the exceptionally low water levels extend beyond the Danube and Drava, with rivers across Croatia affected by prolonged drought and extreme summer temperatures.

The situation is also creating environmental challenges. Water temperatures in many fish ponds have exceeded 30°C, placing additional stress on aquatic life. Unlike rivers, fish in ponds have fewer opportunities to escape warmer water by moving into deeper areas.

Despite the drought, Đuroković stressed that Croatia’s drinking water supply remains secure, although some localised supply issues have been reported on islands and in parts of the mainland.

He warned that the Orljava River near Požega could dry up completely within days if conditions persist. He also highlighted the importance of building more reservoirs to capture water during wetter months and release it during prolonged dry periods to maintain minimum ecological flows.

The record-low Danube has also disrupted river transport, with navigation to the Port of Osijek currently impossible because of insufficient water levels on both the Danube and Drava.

Looking ahead, Đuroković said meaningful improvement will depend not only on rainfall in Croatia but also on significant precipitation further upstream across Europe. Even then, it would take around 10 days for higher water levels to reach Croatia.

He added that Croatia continues to lose around 50% of treated water through its water supply network, underlining the need for continued investment in water infrastructure alongside measures to adapt to increasingly frequent periods of extreme drought.