Brandenburg in the water emergency: extreme drought threatens nature!

Brandenburg in the water emergency: extreme drought threatens nature!

in Brandenburg currently rules the drought. In June 2025, only 38 liters of precipitation per square meter fell in the region, which makes Brandenburg one of the driest regions in Germany. This extreme situation is the result of a spring and heat that is already dry and a heat that predicts temperatures of up to 39 degrees on July 2, 2025. The measuring station on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam recorded the lowest rainfall since the beginning of the records in 1893. The rainfall is currently about 60 percent below the normal values, which marks an alarming trend.

An extraordinary sunshine duration of 700 hours this spring increases the problem. The combination of high sunlight and extremely low precipitation contributes to tightening the low water situation in the waters of Brandenburg. Slapping water levels have been observed here since 2014 as part of the effects of climate change. The warning level is already activated at 23 out of 26 measuring points, a clear signal for the worrying water management situation.

Measure for water withdrawal

In order to cope with the tense location, the water withdrawal from surface waters in Brandenburg an der Havel and in the Havelland will be banned from July 1, 2025. Water removal bans are already used for counties such as Cottbus. The groundwater removal for irrigation is also limited in order to protect the water reserves. In Potsdam and Ostprignitz-Ruppin, there are general orders to regulate water withdrawal. These measures are necessary to protect the endangered waters and their flora and fauna.

In the Brandenburg plateau, such as the Fläming and Barnim, experts have been observing groundwater levels since the 1980s. Low water is often the result of longer dry periods and testifies to a worrying development that will not change without long -lasting precipitation.

climate change and its consequences

Climate change has hit Brandenburg strongly, which is reflected not only in the water levels, but also in agriculture and in the forest content of the country. The Brandenburg climate report represents the changes in the water balance and serves as a guide for the development of adaptation strategies. Citizens can get an overview of the past, current and future climate in order to be able to act independently. The findings flow into water management, with experience with extreme drought in 2018 to 2020. This summarizes that weather conditions such as current high -pressure areas, which keep rainy weather conditions away, are no longer considered unusual.

But not only drought brings challenges. In the cities, too, water quality suffers from heavy rain if drained mixed channels cannot derive the water quickly enough. Here are overflowing that unclear harmful wastewater in waters. This can have serious consequences for people's health and ecosystems, and already led to bathing bans due to increased germ numbers and cyanobacteria.

In order to counter these problems, more green areas are essential, because they can effectively absorb water in heavy rain and cool the city centers at the same time by evaporation.

The current situation in Brandenburg makes it clear that it is high time to take measures and to adapt to the changed climatic conditions. The management of the water resources will continue to be crucial to protect both people and nature in the best possible way.