Water shortage in Brandenburg: Strict removal bans threaten!

Water shortage in Brandenburg: Strict removal bans threaten!

water shortage has now assumed alarming proportions in Brandenburg. The persistent drought forces many counties and cities to restrict the water withdrawal from rivers, lakes and fountains. Among other things, Potsdam, Brandenburg an der Havel as well as the districts of Havelland and Ostprignitz-Ruppin prepare general orders to protect the water resources. This reports Stern.de .

In many regions of the federal state, especially in the southeast, corresponding regulations already apply. A total of eight counties, including Spree-Neiße, Cottbus and Elbe-Elster, have already issued general orders for water withdrawal. Four other circles work on similar regulations. These drastic measures are necessary to maintain the ecological functions of the water and to cope with the low flow in many rivers.

water withdrawal bans in practice

As the current situation shows, the regulations are not uniform. The district of Oberhavel, for example, has introduced a first ban on water. Here gardeners and farmers are only allowed to remove water between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The district of Brandenburg an der Havel also issued a ban on water withdrawal from above -ground waters by September 30, with exceptions to suction wagons. In the Havelland, a general ban even applies until the end of September. These regulations are a response to falling groundwater levels and the inability to compensate for the deficits of the past few years, such as rbb24.de determined.

In many counties, including Märkisch-Oderland, Uckermark and Barnim, there have been permanent water withdrawal bans with few exceptions since 2019 and 2020. This shows how serious the topic is taken in the affected regions. That is why Panketal also introduced an explosive ban between April and September and monitors the drinking water consumption using a water ambulance.

water stress in Germany

The problem is not only limited to Brandenburg. According to a study carried out on behalf of the Federal Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND), 201 out of 401 counties are affected by groundwater stress in Germany. A groundwater stress arises when more than 20% of the groundwater newly formed annually is taken. In East Germany in particular, the groundwater levels have dropped significantly in recent years. Over 50% of the groundwater is used in Germany to supply drinking water, which makes the situation even more critical, since the amounts taken from hundreds of kilometers are often transported to larger cities, so reports ZDF.de .

In the heat summer 2023, the water withdrawals were restricted in over 80 counties. The concerns are increasing because climate change and the increasing water requirement through new industries such as data centers and semiconductor factories could further tighten the situation. The federal government therefore calls for urgent measures from the federal government to regulate the groundwater consumption and to promote sustainable technologies in agriculture.

The beer garden season could be less lively in the future if we do not deal responsibly with our water resources. It is up to all of us to act in water and protect this valuable resource.