The water level of the Orljava River near Požega has dropped to just four centimeters. Prolonged drought and lack of rain have led experts to warn that the riverbed could completely run out of water.
The condition of the Orljava River in Slavonia has become critical. At the measuring station near Požega, a water level of only four centimeters has been recorded, and estimates suggest that, if weather conditions do not change, the river could completely dry up within about ten days.
Hrvoje Šimunović, a reporter for HRT, conveyed the concerns of Hrvatske vode (Croatian Waters) in the HTV News on August 6, 2026, who do not rule out the scenario of a complete disappearance of water 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 Unit for the Orljava-Londža small catchment area, echoed a similar tone. "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 possibly within the next ten days," Stojković warned. He added that occasional brief showers cannot compensate for the lack of water in river courses and underground reserves.
Despite the grim forecasts for the river, the supply of drinking water to the population is not in question. "There is no problem with the drinking water supply; it reaches households and consumers normally," the City Waterworks stated.
The stability of supply is ensured by the diversity of sources feeding the regional water supply system of the Požega area. These include three groundwater wells, two mountain springs, and one surface intake, guaranteeing that taps will not run dry.
Regardless of the current sufficiency of water, authorities are asking citizens to act responsibly. Krešimir Prpić, technical director of Tekija d.o.o., issued a specific call: "We appeal to everyone to reduce watering lawns and filling pools 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, making rational water use crucial for maintaining system stability during this dry period.
