Berlin waters on the abyss: Climate change tightens the crisis!

Berlin waters on the abyss: Climate change tightens the crisis!

Brandenburg an der Havel, Deutschland - In recent years, the condition of the waters in Berlin and Brandenburg has been increasingly worrying. As the Berliner Kurier reports, rivers and lakes suffer from the consequences of climate change and human interventions. The water quality in the Wannsee, which has deteriorated considerably in 2024, is particularly striking, since the water is often covered by blue -green algae. On the whole, the bathing water quality is considered good to very good in many parts, but at 8 out of 56 measuring points the traffic light is clear on red - a grade 5, while 27 measuring points receive an orange - grade 4.

The evaluation of ecological water quality includes factors such as algae and plant colonization as well as the pollutant content, such as phosphorus and nitrogen. The mixed water channel system in Berlin, which also contains the Spree, is a challenge. Daily medication and chemicals from households get into the water and worsen the condition.

EU guidelines and local measures

The European Union strives to improve water quality by 2027 with the water framework guideline of 2000 ambitious goals. However, with only 9 percent ecologically intact waters, Germany has a significantly below average value compared to other EU countries, where only 37 percent of the waters are considered intact ( Environmental Office ). The main causes are high nutrients and pollutants from agriculture, sewage treatment plants and industry. This leads to the fact that the Spree in particular is classified as predominantly "unsatisfactory" and the Havel with an even worse record of "poor".

In order to improve the condition of the waters, renaturation work is urgently needed. The NABU is already carrying out measures south of Havelberg, and funding from the federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt are also provided to meet EU requirements by 2033. However, the water levels in the region have decreased by almost 50 percent due to climate change, which increases the need for action.

global traits and challenges

Overall, an alarming picture shows: According to the European Environment Agency, only 37 percent of surface waters in the EU achieved a “good” ecological condition in 2021. In Germany there is no surface waters in an acceptable chemical condition (DetailsOrtBrandenburg an der Havel, DeutschlandQuellen

• www.berliner-kurier.de
• www.umweltbundesamt.de
• www.europarl.europa.eu