Potsdam issues strict water withdrawal ban - up to 50,000 euros punishment!

Potsdam issues strict water withdrawal ban - up to 50,000 euros punishment!

Potsdam, Deutschland - in Potsdam there is now a strict ban on withdrawing water from the lakes and rivers there. This measure was decided on July 15, 2025 and is valid until October 10 of this year. The reason for the ban on water withdrawal is the persistent drought that has been emerging for several years. In particular, the water levels of the Havel and the Nuthe are alarming, which attributes the city administration to the inadequate precipitation and the extreme weather conditions. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) reports the slightest rainfall in the first half of the year in over 130 years. Despite the isolated rain, the weather is tense because the groundwater levels in Brandenburg have been continuously fallen in recent years and this situation can now be considered normality.

The city administration warns that the continued water withdrawal not only endangers the water supply, but could also result in significant ecological damage. These include algae growth and fish death. In view of the scarcity, it is promoted for a conscious handling of water. Tips include pouring gardens in the cooler morning or evening hours, collecting rainwater and using mulch to keep the floor moist. The request for the enforcing irrigation of lawn areas is also part of the campaign to protect the water and support nature. Tixio reports that a maximum of fines of up to 50,000 euros in the event of violations of the ban.

exceptions and risks

Particularly affected by the measures are garden owners who wanted to remove water for irrigation purposes from surface waters. However, the ban makes an exception to the gardens of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation as well as the city's public green spaces. Under certain conditions, around 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., water can be removed from the waters.

The drought in Brandenburg is not new. Extreme low water situations have been the order of the day since 2018. In June 2025, for example, only 38 liters of precipitation per square meter were measured, which classifies the region one of the driest in Germany. Experts warn that global warming and the associated higher temperatures will further reduce the precipitation in summer. [Tagesspiegel] (https://www.tagesspiegel.de/potsdam/landeshaupstadt/trockeheit-und-wenig-regen-potsdam-Erlass withdrawal of water. From July 2025 there were already cross -district water withdrawal bans, which have now also gained a foothold in Potsdam.

climate change and solutions

The current low water situation is a direct result of the previous dry period and is further tightened by the increasing temperatures. As the [MAZ] (https://www.maz-online.de/brandenburg/brandenburg-trockenheit-- and-removable-and-neue-neue-Normalitaet-OODM2PMFHGGPAODZFRYBRN4GU.HTML) analyzed, several municipalities in Brandenburg have already reserved restrictions on water withdrawal. Overall, the rainfall in the region is around 60 percent lower than normal values, which also complicated the situation. The drainage on the levels of the Havel and Nuthe lies below the recommended guidelines and shows how critical the situation actually is.

Hope for a significant improvement in the situation rests on future precipitation. However, weather forecasts suggest that a comprehensive relaxation of the low water situation is not in sight for the time being. A rethink in dealing with water is now more in demand to protect the flora and fauna of the waters and to guarantee the sustainable water supply.