Low water levels persist in western and north-western Ukraine, prompting the authorities to extend water use restrictions for a number of enterprises. Reduced water abstraction limits for 92 businesses will remain in place until at least 15 November.
This was reported by the State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine.
Historic lows
Low autumn water levels will persist on a number of water bodies. According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Centre, which provided details, water levels are close to the lowest on record and in some places even lower.
This applies to the following rivers:
- from 6 to 13 November: rivers of the Prypiat sub-basin (Volyn, Rivne and Zhytomyr Oblasts), certain rivers of the Dniester basin (Lviv Oblast) and the Sian (Lviv Oblast) and Western Bug (Lviv and Volyn Oblasts) sub-basins;
- from 6 to 15 November: rivers of the Tisza sub-basin (Zakarpattia Oblast).
Source: Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Centre
Rational use of resources
The full list of water users is set out in the order. It includes agricultural, food, industrial and energy enterprises, as well as municipal utilities such as the water supply companies of Uzhhorod and Svaliava.
The State Agency for Water Resources has set new, reduced water abstraction limits. The agency added that primary water users may restrict the rights of secondary users.
If hydrological conditions return to normal after 15 November, water use limits will be fully restored.
The restrictions do not apply to water abstraction for drinking purposes.
As a reminder, the previous restrictions imposed by the State Agency for Water Resources applied to more than 200 users, so the situation is gradually returning to normal.
In 2026, signs of critically low water levels were first recorded as early as June. The State Agency for Water Resources stated that this was caused by high temperatures, a lack of rainfall and the consequences of the hostilities.
Environmentalists have pointed out another factor: the destruction of natural ecosystems. Due to deforestation, soils in the Carpathians can no longer retain water. Off-roading also undermines this function.
