For decades, flooding was considered the ultimate hydrological danger. While the flood causes a lot of damage in the short term but disappears comparatively quickly, the drought has a much more lasting effect. Ultimately, it influences the entire water cycle – with consequences for agriculture, drinking water, ecosystems and the economy. Even in our latitudes, water shortages are becoming more and more common, and groundwater levels are showing a clear downward trend in the long term. This can also be seen in the so-called low water drains. This refers to the particularly small amounts of water that flow into a river or stream during dry times or when there is a long-term lack of rain.
