Drying wells leave eastern Finland needing wet autumn and snowy winter
Tuesday 18th August 2026 on 10:00 in
Finland
Groundwater levels in eastern Finland have fallen so low that dozens of households may soon have to rely on water carried from elsewhere, Yle reports. In some areas, levels are approaching the lowest recorded in nearly 50 years.
The situation is particularly serious in North Karelia, South Savo and the southern region of Päijät-Häme. Twenty dried-up wells have so far been reported to the vesi.fi service, and the number is expected to rise during the autumn.
Groundwater levels are expected to continue falling, as they are normally at their lowest in autumn. The current shortage follows a period of about two years that included two winters with little snow and a dry spring.
In eastern Finland’s small groundwater formations, levels are currently about 40 to 60 centimetres below the seasonal average. In Kainuu, they are as much as 30 to 80 centimetres below normal. In southern Finland, levels in larger groundwater formations are 20 to 60 centimetres below the usual level.
Heavy rainfall could improve the situation. In western Finland, downpours have already raised groundwater levels to the normal level for this time of year.
The previous autumn, 60 dried-up wells were reported to vesi.fi from eastern Finland. The figure does not show the full extent of the problem because reporting is voluntary.
The prolonged drought is also visible along the shores of lakes and rivers and has affected recreational use of the shorelines. An unusually early spring contributed to the decline in groundwater levels.
“Spring was a month early, and that also lowered groundwater levels,” said Sami Soosalu, a hydrologist at the Finnish Environment Institute.
The institute is asking people to report drought conditions and dried-up wells. A drop in a private well’s water level may be noticed, for example, through a deterioration in water quality.
“Water use should be reduced if you notice that the level in your well has fallen. Unnecessary lawn watering, for example, should be stopped,” Soosalu said.