In streams and rivers, the water flows are much lower than normal for the year in large parts of southern Sweden. And at the same time, the groundwater levels are low.
Now, the levels are being compared to at least Jönköping County in 2016, one of the years when the groundwater levels were unusually low.
2016 was more like this year with a very dry spring. So it's that year that the drinking water producers are comparing with, since it was the worst year from their perspective, says Anne-Catrin Almer, water administrator at the County Administrative Board in Jönköping County to SVT.
She "counts on" there being a watering ban in the county this summer. And she is already urging people to think about saving water.
Groundwater is the term for the water that exists underground or in the bedrock. It is formed by precipitation in the form of rain or meltwater. Approximately half of the drinking water in Sweden comes from groundwater reservoirs.
The period with the most records of all-time lows is 1976-1977 followed by 2016-2019 and then 1996-1997.
Source: Geological Survey of Sweden
