Already in May, the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) warned of a risk of water shortage due to low groundwater levels in Skåne, Blekinge, Kalmar, and Gotland counties.
Just over a month later, there is a risk of water shortage in seven additional counties: Kronoberg, Jönköping, Halland, Västra Götaland, Stockholm, Södermanland, and Örebro.
Cause: Unusually little precipitation, i.e. a dry winter and spring, which made the groundwater levels drop quickly. If the early summer had not been so cool and rainy, the pace would have continued.
The levels have continued to drop, but they are not decreasing as quickly as before, says Michelle Nygren, hydrogeologist at SGU.
Although the pace has slowed down, the groundwater levels are at levels they usually are in a couple of months, i.e. at the end of the summer.
The warnings of water shortage apply primarily to small reservoirs, and thus all property owners who have private water, i.e. their own well. The general advice is: Be frugal.
-If you have your own well, you can take a water sample and send it in for analysis so you can find out if the water is suitable. During low groundwater levels, there is an increased risk of deteriorated water quality. If you live by the coast, there is also a high risk of saltwater intrusion, says Michelle Nygren.
The dry winter affects the groundwater levels in almost the entire country. The exception is the mountainous regions of Norrland.
SGU publishes maps for current groundwater levels for the entire country every week. SMHI also has maps of areas where there is a warning for water shortage, either due to low groundwater levels or low levels in watercourses.
Counties that risk water shortage in week 26 due to low groundwater levels:
Small and large reservoirs: Gotland county, Kalmar, Skåne, Blekinge, Kronoberg, and Jönköping.
Small reservoirs:
Halland, Västra Götaland, Stockholm, Södermanland, and Örebro.
