GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 19, 2026

Low Water

Low water describes a sustained below-average water level in a river or canal.

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Last updated: 19 September 2026

Source: Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde / ELWIS (Wasserstrassen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes) — https://www.elwis.de/DE/dynamisch/Wasserstaende/Pegelvorhersage:KAUB

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Definition & Explanation

Low water describes a sustained below-average water level in a river or canal. For inland navigation the decisive figure is not the volume of water itself but the resulting fairway depth, which determines how deeply a vessel may be loaded. On the Rhine, reference gauges such as Kaub, Cologne, Duisburg-Ruhrort and Emmerich serve as the benchmark; once they fall below the equivalent water level (GlW), an inland vessel can carry only part of its usual cargo. The river is normally not closed — it remains navigable, but each voyage moves less cargo, which drives demand for additional vessel capacity, longer transit times and low water surcharges. The counterpart is high water, when navigation is suspended because of insufficient bridge clearance or excessive current.

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Low Water

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