The Netherlands is facing an escalating water shortage as prolonged drought drives the Rhine to its lowest recorded level at Lobith and leaves the Maas carrying unusually little fresh water into the country. Dutch authorities have classified the situation as an actual water shortage since July 16 and are coordinating measures including pumping, adjusting river weirs and restricting some lock operations to conserve freshwater and limit saltwater intrusion. Low river levels are also disrupting freight traffic, forcing cargo vessels on the Rhine and its branches to reduce loads to avoid running aground. In the Arnhem-Nijmegen region, receding water has exposed extensive sandbanks and riverbeds, leaving some houseboats grounded. Authorities say drinking-water supplies remain secure, while researchers have linked the severity of the drought to human-driven climate change and rising temperatures that increase evaporation and dry soils more rapidly.
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