District of Elbe-Elster stops water withdrawals: Nature in danger!

District of Elbe-Elster stops water withdrawals: Nature in danger!

In the past few weeks, the rainfall in the Elbe-Elster district has led to a great time, which has led to a worrying situation. The black magpie and their secondary waters record historical low levels. Many rivers in the region struggle with falling water levels, which significantly endangered water quality and ecological balance. This is confirmed by the [Wochenkurier] (https://www.wochenkurier.info/landkreis-elben-elster/artikel/landkreis-stoppt-wasser withdrawal-aus-fluessen), which also reports that the "low water ambulance Brandenburg" is on red. There the department of order and district development, Dirk Gebhard, emphasized the urgency of the action for humans and nature.

In addition, in the period from February to May 2025, fewer than half of the normal precipitation fell. The visible consequences are clear: dry streams, falling groundwater levels and a clearly stressed ecosystem require measures. In order to cope with this crisis situation, on June 20, 2025, a general order comes into force, which severely limits the water law withdrawal from the above -ground waters in the district. This affects all that remove water from these waters, with free permission to be prohibited by owners and residents. Existing removal permits are exposed to further notice and exceptions can be issued by application. Violations of this decision can be punished with fines of up to 50,000 euros. Applications for water withdrawal must be submitted to the lower water authority of the district.

The causes and the consequences of low water

low water events are not just an acute challenge. They are caused by dry periods that often occur in front of the low water. If the groundwater supplies are exhausted and the drain from the lakes is hardly possible, the water level in the rivers continuously decreases. According to Federal Environment Agency, human activities, such as the management of storage and dams, have a direct influence on low water development. The land use in the catchment area also has an impact on the water balance.

The ecological consequences are serious: an increased lack of oxygen, narrowed habitats and high water temperatures can put fish and other aquatic organisms under stress and even lead to fish death. Last but not least, cyanobacteria that form dangerous toxins in the water can multiply under certain conditions. Low water and the associated challenges are not just a temporary phenomenon, but also a sign of serious environmental changes.

A look at the future

As the Federal Office for Cartography and Geodesy shows, low water belongs to the annually recurring phenomena in Central Europe and is influenced by climatic and seasonal factors. The accumulation of low water situations is part of the natural variability. No substantial changes in low-water drainage behavior are expected by the middle of the 21st century, but intensified low water events are to be feared in the second half of the century.