Cottbus lifts water withdrawal ban – all-clear after low water situation!

Cottbus lifts water withdrawal ban – all-clear after low water situation!

The city of Cottbus gave the all-clear today, July 17, 2025: The ban on water abstraction from surface waters will be lifted. The low water situation has recovered, mainly due to recent rains and mild temperatures. This relaxation is also evident at the Leibsch gauge, where the discharge values ​​are stable above the threshold values ​​for low water levels 1 and 2. According to the latest measurements on July 15, 2025, a seven-day average of 7.48 m³/s was recorded, which is positive news for the region's water supply. The general order that banned all-day water abstraction on June 26, 2025 was therefore revoked. This news was also posted on the city's official website today.

However, the initial situation before the ban was lifted was serious. In June, water withdrawal bans were issued in both Cottbus and the Spree-Neiße district in order to counteract the water shortage problem. From a Friday in June, water was no longer allowed to be pumped out of rivers and lakes - a significant step that previously only applied during the day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The constantly falling water level at the Leibsch gauge led to this measure, as it had been below critical values ​​for over a week. However, one can currently breathe a sigh of relief as the situation has calmed down and water is being released into the city's ditches again without any problems.

Causes of water shortages

But why did this critical situation arise in the first place? The water shortage in Germany has many faces. Climatic conditions, water quality issues and the impact of mining reportedly play a role. In addition, the high demand for water in metropolitan regions contributes to the tense situation. Like that Federal Environment Agency describes, long-term solutions are required. The WADKlim research project has already proposed some recommendations for action on water management. This includes measures to promote sustainable water use and to minimize future conflicts of use.

Sustainable water use has become increasingly important, especially in view of possible future dry periods. These could further reduce water availability in many regions of Germany. It is therefore of central importance to work together on solutions and to bring natural ecosystems more into the focus of water management considerations.

A look ahead

The lifting of the water withdrawal ban in Cottbus shows that the region is well on the way to stabilizing its water supply. The city has already announced that it will publish detailed information on the current situation in the next official gazette. The positive developments give rise to hope for sustainable management of water resources. After all, water is not only a precious commodity, but also a lifeline for people and nature.