Brandenburg is fighting drought: Water removal now strictly prohibited!

Brandenburg is fighting drought: Water removal now strictly prohibited!

Brandenburg an der Havel, Deutschland - The situation regarding water availability in Brandenburg is currently tense. In the past few weeks, the drought has further tightened, especially after a warm and low -rainy June, in which only 38 liters of precipitation per square meter were measured. The meteorologists from the [MAZ] (https://www.maz-online.de/brandenburg/brandenburg-wie-lange-fluesse- and-seen-noch-genuegend-wasser-Opm2pmfhggpaodzfrybrn4Gu.html) report that the precipitation quantities in Brandenburg are below normal values. These critical conditions result in the water levels in many waters, which is related to the continuing heat and climate change.

With falling water availability, several cities and counties in Brandenburg have already issued water withdrawal bans to protect the resources. The water withdrawal from surface waters in Brandenburg an der Havel has been banned since July 1, 2025, and similar regulations have been in effect in the Hovelland district since the beginning of July. Cities such as Cottbus and eight other counties, including Spree-Neisse and Elbe-Elster, have now taken measures that severely restrict the water withdrawal. [Rbb] (https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/biebtrag/2025/07/brandenburg-wasser with a verb-html) emphasizes that most withdrawals with pumping devices are no longer allowed, while the use of watering can remains permitted in certain cases.

causes of drought

The causes of the dry location are diverse. Spring 2025 not only brought above average many hours of sunshine - a total of 700 compared to an average of 507 - but also suffers from the influence of stable high -pressure areas that prevent rainfall. This extreme drought is a recurring pattern that has already led to significant water shortages between 2018 and 2020. Climate researchers of the Federal Environment Agency examine the effects of these climatic changes on the water availability and planning measures to adapt to future drought conditions.

The warning levels are activated at 23 of the 26 measuring points in Brandenburg, whereby the drainage on the measuring point Babelsberg-Drewitz with only 0.725 m³/s is significantly below the guideline of 2.3 m³/s. This exacerbates the already difficult situation. The availability of groundwater, which is fed by precipitation, has been declining since the 1980s, which results in negative effects on nature, including a falling oxygen concentration in the waters.

The consequences for the regions

In the affected regions, the pressure on the water resources increases, which also calls for the social responsibility of the population. The drinking water supply is currently guaranteed, but those responsible in Potsdam and Ostprignitz-Ruppin are preparing further general orders for water withdrawal. The call to deal responsibly with water is becoming more and more urgent, while the forecasts for the coming weeks do not promise a fundamental improvement. Weather models indicate a medium -term cooling after persistent heat periods, but without nationwide rainfall.

It remains to be hoped that the impending measures for water management and the awareness of the population will soon have an effect to improve the special situation in Brandenburg and to secure water resources for future generations.