Critical Situation in Požega Valley: Orljava on the Brink of Disappearing
Water level at the measuring station drops to four centimeters, and experts warn of the possibility of the riverbed completely drying up without new rainfall.
Water level at the measuring station drops to four centimeters, and experts warn of the possibility of the riverbed completely drying up without new rainfall.
In Slavonia, an alarming situation is being recorded on the Orljava River. At the measuring station near Požega, the water level was measured at just four centimeters, and according to estimates, if new rains do not occur, the river could completely disappear within about ten days.
Hrvoje Šimunović, a reporter for HRT, conveyed the concern of Hrvatske vode (Croatian Waters) in the HTV Dnevnik on August 6, 2026, who do not rule out the scenario of the water completely vanishing from the riverbed. "In the next five to seven days, no new precipitation is expected, so the scenario of the Orljava riverbed completely drying up is not impossible," Šimunović stated.
Dimitrije Stojković, head of the Water Management Branch for the Orljava-Londža small catchment area, expressed similar concern. "The trend is that, if such climatic conditions continue, that is, if high temperatures and lack of precipitation persist, the Orljava will unfortunately dry up perhaps in the next ten days," Stojković warned. He added that occasional brief downpours cannot compensate for the lack of water in river courses and underground reserves.
Although the forecasts for the river are bleak, the supply of drinking water to the population remains stable. "There is no problem with the drinking water supply; it reaches households and consumers normally," said the City Waterworks.
The security of supply is ensured by multiple sources feeding the regional water supply system of the Požega Valley. The system relies on three groundwater wells, two mountain springs, and one surface intake, guaranteeing that taps will not run dry.
Despite the sufficiency of water, authorities are appealing to citizens to be responsible. Krešimir Prpić, technical director of Tekija d.o.o., issued a specific call: "We appeal to everyone to reduce lawn watering and pool filling to ensure normal water supply for as long as possible."
Prpić emphasized that the prospects for more abundant and prolonged rains in the near future are slim, so rational water use becomes crucial for maintaining system stability during this dry period.
