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Water withdrawal ban in Oberspreewald-Lausitz: Drought hits the region!
Due to persistent drought, the Spree-Neiße district prohibits the withdrawal of water from rivers. Strict regulations will apply from June 20, 2025.
Water withdrawal ban in Oberspreewald-Lausitz: Drought hits the region!
The persistent drought has led to a significant reduction in water extraction from surface waters in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district. From June 20, 2025, there will be a ban on taking water from the Spree and the Black Elster, as the Tagesspiegel reports. This ban comes into force until revoked and is intended to counteract the falling water levels.
In the future, the extraction of water with pumps, such as electric garden pumps or submersible pumps, will be drastically restricted. However, skimming water with a watering can remains permitted – provided it is done with moderation and consideration. The regulation applies to the Spree between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The drought situation in Brandenburg
The drought does not only affect the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district. The districts of Dahme-Spreewald and Elbe-Elster have also imposed similar water withdrawal bans, which were introduced to protect the natural water balance. According to a report from Niederlausitz Aktuell, the current weather situation with warm and dry conditions in recent weeks has had a negative impact on flows in rivers. The Spree is particularly affected, as its water levels continue to fall despite measures already taken.
In the Dahme-Spreewald district, there were flow support measures in place from mid-May, in which water was drawn from Saxon dams in order to stabilize the level of the Spree. However, the weather forecast does not give hope for a quick improvement. The State Office for the Environment has determined that water levels and groundwater reserves are not sufficient to compensate for the deficits of recent years.
The consequences and outlook
In all affected locations it is clear that the soil is exceptionally dry and the situation remains tense. The general orders to curb water withdrawals have already been published in daily newspapers and official gazettes. This is not just a temporary arrangement; If the current low water situation persists, the regulations could be further tightened.
These measures are particularly important in the summer months, when experience shows that water consumption increases. High penalties of up to 50,000 euros for violations of the water extraction bans have also been suggested, as mentioned on rbb24. The situation in Brandenburg must be monitored carefully and it remains to be hoped that rainfall will soon defuse the extremely critical situation.
Those affected in the districts are urged to reconsider their water consumption and to take nature into consideration. It is in all of our interests to protect water resources.