River flows in Kosovo below average – IHMK warns of consequences for drinking water and agriculture
Express newspaper
26/06/2025 8:18
The Hydrometeorological Institute of Kosovo (IHMK) has announced that rivers in the country’s territory are recording significantly lower flows than the multi-year average, due to the lack of precipitation in spring and the lack of snow during winter.
According to the latest measurements from the state hydrometric network, this situation is most pronounced in the Drini i Bardhë basin and its tributaries, where the Bistrica e Pejës river is mentioned as a more concrete example. Although precipitation has fallen from time to time, it has been mainly torrential and local in nature, not significantly affecting the filling of water sources.
IHMK emphasizes that the situation of low flows is present in most rivers of Kosovo, but most critical in the White Drini system. The Bistrica e Pejës river alone, with a sub-basin area of 500 square kilometers, constitutes 11.5% of the total area of this basin and contributes 13.7% to its total flow.
Hydrological data from the last five years indicate significant anomalies in the flow of this river, especially during the spring months, when flows are traditionally higher due to snowmelt and seasonal rainfall.
According to historical statistics (1963–2009), the average flow of the Bistrica River in May was 17.5 cubic meters per second, while in June it was 7.5 m³/s. But in the last five years (2021–2025), the average for the month of June has dropped to just 4.8 m³/s – a decrease of 56.3% compared to historical data.
The institute warns that this decline in groundwater flows and levels could have serious consequences during the summer, including restrictions on drinking water supplies, impacts on the agricultural sector, energy production from hydroelectric power plants, and other vital sectors.
For this reason, IHMK calls for continuous monitoring and careful planning of water resources, in order to mitigate the possible effects of a deepening hydrological drought that could affect the country in the coming months.