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Water withdrawal ban in Potsdam: Drought forces drastic measures!
Due to acute drought, Potsdam has banned the withdrawal of water from bodies of water until October 2025. Penalties of up to 50,000 euros.
Water withdrawal ban in Potsdam: Drought forces drastic measures!
The situation in Brandenburg is tense - the ongoing drought has led to a strict ban on taking water from lakes, rivers and ditches. The city of Potsdam announced this step today, and the pumping ban applies from now until October 10, 2025. Violations of this regulation can be punished with heavy fines of up to 50,000 euros. The water level in numerous bodies of water has fallen sharply as a result of warm and dry weeks, which has led many administrations in Brandenburg to tighten the regulations on water withdrawal. Loud daily news emphasizes that even small water withdrawals can add up and put water bodies under stress.
The ongoing drought is not a new phenomenon for Brandenburg. In June 2025, only 38 liters of precipitation fell per square meter, making the region the driest in Germany. This worrying situation has worsened following a dry spring. The Potsdam measuring station on the Telegrafenberg recorded the lowest amounts of precipitation since records began in 1893 maz online reported. The decline in water levels in Brandenburg's waters is an ongoing trend that has been apparent since 2014 and is being exacerbated by climate change.
Regulations and exceptions
Similar water withdrawal bans have been introduced in many other districts and cities in Brandenburg. For example, in the Oberhavel district, water withdrawal for private gardens, agriculture and businesses is only permitted between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. In Brandenburg an der Havel there is even a 24-hour ban until September 30th. There are only exceptions for vacuum trucks that irrigate public areas. Strong restrictions have also been introduced in Havelland and the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, which strictly regulate the time windows for garden watering. Loud RBB24 Regions such as Dahme-Spreewald and Cottbus also had to formulate special regulations to deal with the drought.
The numbers speak for themselves: Precipitation in the first half of 2025 is drastically below the long-term average, which is pushing groundwater levels way down. Similar developments were already registered between 2018 and 2022. So far, these deficits have not been compensated for. Temperatures are also high, reaching up to 39 degrees in July, which further increases evaporation and exacerbates the problem.
Outlook for the coming time
The forecast weather conditions with stable high pressure areas do not promise any improvement for the time being. The low water situation is only expected to ease if rainfall continues and groundwater levels rise. Experts recommend using water responsibly so as not to put additional strain on nature.
Brandenburg's waters are suffering from the consequences of drought: a decline in oxygen concentration and increased algae growth are just some of the problems that can mean loss of biodiversity. The focus is now on regulating water withdrawal in the long term to ensure sustainable protection of valuable water reserves.