Water removal prohibited: Landkreis Osl protects Spree and Elster!

Water removal prohibited: Landkreis Osl protects Spree and Elster!

A new ban on water withdrawal from the rivers of the region will be effective from June 20, 2025. The district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz has decided to severely limit the water withdrawal from the Black Elster and the Spree. According to LR Online , a complete ban on water with pumping devices applies. This means that no water can be removed with electric garden pumps or other pumps. With the Spree, on the other hand, the ban only applies between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

However, the abdication of water with a watering can is allowed as long as this is made with measure and consideration. Groundwater withdrawals also remain unaffected, which means that garden owners can continue to use their fountain water. The measure is intended to help counteract the decline in water levels in the rivers and the associated ecological damage. The water levels are already low and this step is considered necessary to protect both the natural ecosystems and water resources.

background and exceptions

The ban is part of a comprehensive plan to keep the water balance in the region stable. Similarly, the neighboring counties Dahme-Spreewald and Spree-Neiße have recently issued similar all-finished orders, such as Nordkurier

The floors are very dry in the past few months due to the lower rainfall, and the rainfall in winter have not been sufficient to secure the water requirements for the summer months. This leads to worries about the water resources, which are also under pressure in the current climate crisis. The water level analysis shows that drought problems occur in Germany, and the preservation of this vital resource is necessary for everyone.

global water crisis

The situation in Germany is part of a larger, global trend that is discussed by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in the 2025 water atlas. The report illuminates that water resources worldwide are threatened by overuse, pollution and climate change. A terrifying result of the study is that 2.2 billion people do not have safe access to drinking water. In Germany, surveys show that 87% of the population appreciate water as a precious property, but only 2% consider the water crisis as an urgent problem.

In this country, too, the topic remains emotionally and politically charged. There have already been disputes in various regions, for example in Hesse about water promotions or in Brandenburg on the water withdrawal for industrial purposes, while the municipalities are fighting for their water resources. This requires a rethink and quick action at all levels.

The district has therefore opened up the possibility of applying for exceptions to the lower water authority, but the ban will be maintained until the revocation. In view of the ongoing climatic challenges, it is crucial that each one finds a good knack in dealing with water.