Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: New law strengthens water protection and prices increase!

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: New law strengthens water protection and prices increase!

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Deutschland - In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, an important step in terms of water protection and climate adaptation is based. The new state water and coastal protection law (LWAKÜG M-V) was decided at the end of June 2023 and aims to strengthen the protection of groundwater, lakes and rivers in the region. Agricultural and Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) now presented the latest developments on June 24, 2025, whereby a central element of the law is the bindingly anchored sustainability requirement. [Euwid Wasser] (https://www.euwid-wasser.de/news/politik/mecpommern-witert- Sustainability-In-Wassergesetz-Festival-250625/) reports that the new law is to ban deep plowing and the use of environmentally harmful fertilizer in 5-meter-white strips.

climate change is massive and is shown by rising temperatures, more frequent heavy rain and dry periods. These changes required action that takes up the new law. As part of this project, a maximum of 7,500 hectares of arable land in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania should be affected by the new regulations. In addition to the new use of fertilizer use, it is also checked how water -saving irrigation by farmers can take place, which could even result in incentives for such methods. [Tagesschau] (https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/mecklenburgvorpommern/neues-landeswassergesetz-soll-gewaesser-und-kuesten-in-mv-Schuetzen, Landeswassergesetz-100.html) are reported by the numerous measures to also be taken in times of climate change and weather external protection ensure.

water withdrawal and fees

The new regulations not only bring change in the protective measures, but also in financing. In the future, farmers for water withdrawals will have to pay: 2 cents per cubic meter for surface water and 6 cents for groundwater. Another focus is on increasing drinking water prices. A family of four can expect annual additional costs of around 15 euros, while the price of one liter of drinking water will increase by almost a cent.

By introducing these new fees, the country plans to flow annual income of around 11 million euros, which are intended to flow into projects to strengthen water protection for both groundwater quality and for the renewal of almost 700 measuring points. This not only ensures necessary financial resources, but also promotes adaptation to climate change and the protection of our valuable water resources. [DVGW] (https://www.dvgw.de/themen/wasser/resourcenmanagement-und-gewaessenschutz/klimawandel- und-Wasserversorge?type=98) emphasizes that the climate crisis has already announced the first stress tests for water supply, which was particularly obvious through the dry year.

investments in the future

The law replaces the existing state water law of 1992 and is part of a comprehensive strategy for water entertainment and water management infrastructure. Municipalities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have already invested around 2.5 billion euros in wastewater disposal since 1991, including 900 million euros in funding from the state. In addition, around 300 million euros flowed into drinking water projects, supported by 110 million euros in funding.

An essential part of the new law is also coastal protection. Around 500 million euros have been invested in coastal protection systems since 1990. Now it is stipulated by law that coastal protection not only receives a legal framework for the environment, but also for built -up land on the coast. Thanks to new systems, the increasing sea level and stronger storms are to be reacted to, which is of crucial importance for the region. The upcoming debates in the state parliament before the summer break will show decisively how the law continues to advance and when it can finally come into force.