Luxembourg's rivers are drying up, but there are things we can do at home to help

"It really is a bit of a nightmare this year." In mid-August, two men are strolling past the Alzette in Merscher Park; their dog is trotting across dusty earth and withered patches of grass. There hasn't been any significant rainfall here for a good two months – just like in the rest of the country. They don't yet know that a week later it will cool down a bit – and rain. But that will hardly make any difference to the water levels. To see any water at all, they'd have to venture uncomfortably close to the steep riverbank." "It really makes you worry a bit …"

A bit of rain is hardly enough

Their impression matches reality. "Compared with historical data, we can say that water levels in most rivers are extremely low. Over the past few years, they have been as low as has only very rarely, if ever, been recorded historically. In some cases, we've seen new record lows, " says Christophe Gilbertz, a member of staff at the Ministry of the Environment's Hydrology and Hydrometry Service.

What is unusual is how early the water shortage began this year, adds Claude Schortgen, head of the Service and research officer: "The low water levels began significantly earlier than usual. Even two or three really rainy days wouldn't make much difference. We need a lot of rain over the long term for the soil to re-saturate somewhat and for the groundwater level to rise." The forecast proves accurate, as a glance at the water level statistics shows: whilst the rain showers cause a slight upward spike, the levels quickly drop back down to record lows afterwards. The water simply seeps away.