Some of the world’s most significant commercial waterways are coming under growing pressure as climate change impacts negatively on water supply, river levels and shipping.

A mere four years after upgrading the canal to accommodate bigger ships, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has now invited bids from international engineering consortiums for a massive new project: a water management system to improve the canal’s operation and at the same time secure the nation’s drinking water supply.

Water supply issues have become a problem for the canal. When rainfall is limited and nearby lake levels fall, the ACP is forced to implement draft restrictions to keep the canal running, reducing the cargo tonnage vessels can carry.

Last year was the region’s fifth-driest in 70 years. Low rainfall reduces water levels at Gatun and Alhajuela lakes, the main water sources for both the canal and Panama’s population. With canal levels projected to drop below operational safety limits, ACP implemented a ‘freshwater charge’ designed to cut consumption.

But ACP understandably wants a more permanent solution. Its proposed water management system will guarantee supplies for both the canal and the population for at least 50 years. “Securing sustained, operational water levels is paramount for the long-term viability of the Panama Canal,” says administrator Ricaurte Vásquez.

And in Germany…

Authorities responsible for the operation of the Rhine, one of Europe’s most important waterways, are evaluating options to guarantee it remains navigable – including the possibility of reengineering parts of the river.

The move comes after low water levels brought a dramatic reduction in shipping on stretches of the river in 2018. Some 30% of Germany’s coal, iron ore and natural gas is transported along the river – the 2018 hiccup resulted in a contraction in the country’s economy.

The impact of longer and drier summers is exacerbated by far less melt water from alpine glaciers, further reducing river levels.

Mooted strategies to facilitate navigation include altering the way the current flows in specific parts of the river (to prevent scouring and sedimentation), changing the design of the ubiquitous barges (so they can operate in shallower water) and even the introduction of new locks. This latter option is likely to face an uphill battle from environmentalists.