What the gauge tells us
The water authority has measured the river level at the harbour pier since 1882. Low water in late summer is normal; low water that lasts into October is not. The three driest Octobers on record have all come in the last ten years.
Who feels it first
Inland shipping notices first. A barge that normally carries 2,000 tonnes of grain can take 650 at the current depth, and the harbour company expects transport costs to rise until the autumn rain arrives.
What the city is doing
Drinking water is not at risk, because Lindenfeld draws it from groundwater. The city has nevertheless asked residents to stop watering gardens from the river and its side arms until the level rises above 80 centimetres.
Updated on 15 October 2026 with the reading of Wednesday morning: 40 centimetres.