Dryness strikes: water withdrawal in Saxony-Anhalt is severely restricted!

Dryness strikes: water withdrawal in Saxony-Anhalt is severely restricted!

The persistent drought in Germany is becoming increasingly noticeable and leads to drastic measures to be used in several counties. Saxony-Anhalt is particularly affected, where some regions of water withdrawal bans in the past few days. As MDR , no water can be taken from rivers in Jerichower Land from Wednesday. Such regulation has even applied in the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel since Monday. These decisions were made due to the alarming water levels and the impending drought.

In order to stabilize the groundwater level, the use of ground or drinking water for garden irrigation was restricted between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Here, however, there are exceptions for horticultural companies that work with dripping and dropping of drops. District Administrator Steve Kanitz (SPD) underlines the urgency of these measures to secure water supply in the region. This regulation remains up to the revocation and is published in the official sheets.

water withdrawal bans in other counties

The water withdrawal bans are not an isolated case. As t-online have also summarized similar bans. In many regions, these bans are even associated with fines of up to 50,000 euros in order to punish violations. The lack of water and the falling groundwater levels are a growing problem that significantly affects not only nature, but also agriculture.

The economic effects are already noticeable. Many farmers report lower yields, especially for rapeseed, while the dry damage in grain types records the first reports. Agriculture thus suffers from the extreme conditions that can also lead to drying out soils.

forest fire risk and prevention measures

In this context, the risk of forest fire in Saxony-Anhalt also increases. The danger level has reached the second highest level in many areas. In order to minimize the risk of fires, it is recommended to fill pools only once a season and to make irrigation systems efficiently, as is emphasized in the Harz district. In addition, the management of the Harz narrow -gauge railways (HSB) has already announced timetable changes due to the risk of forest fire. From danger level 4, no steam locomotives are allowed on the route, instead diesel locomotives are used.

The rising groundwater shortage is a general problem in Germany. According to a study by the BUND this is not just a regional challenge. Falling groundwater levels and drying floors not only endanger the drinking water supply, but also the ecosystems. This is particularly strong in areas, such as Northern and East Germany, which are intensively used. The future of our water supply now requires a comprehensive national strategy to counter the challenges of climate change and water lack.

The coming weeks will show how the situation is developing and what other measures are taken to master the drought. One thing is clear: it is high time to promote sustainable handling of water and to ensure the necessary change in consciousness in the population.