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Drought in Saxony-Anhalt: Water withdrawal is severely restricted from today!
Persistent drought in the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel leads to water extraction bans and an increased risk of forest fires.
Drought in Saxony-Anhalt: Water withdrawal is severely restricted from today!
The ongoing drought in Saxony-Anhalt has now led to strict water withdrawal restrictions. According to MDR, starting today, water withdrawals from rivers, streams and ponds are prohibited in the Mansfeld-Südharz district. In addition, similar regulations apply in Dessau-Roßlau, where the same measure will come into force from July 1st. Bans have already been imposed in the districts of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel and Jerichower Land.
The restrictions are not just limited to water withdrawal: in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, irrigation of green spaces and sports facilities is also prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The only exceptions apply to agricultural businesses that have a water permit.
Drought and lack of water
The reasons for these measures are worrying: the groundwater levels in the district have fallen below the multi-year average, which forces the authorities to make this decision. The neighboring Harz district has also taken similar steps and is restricting water extraction from surface water and groundwater, reports n-tv. Therefore, residents are encouraged to conserve water to protect resources.
The low water levels in the rivers are also noteworthy: the Elbe, for example, has reached a critical water level of only 56 centimeters in Dresden. Germany is facing a heat wave that could rise to 39 degrees on Wednesday. According to NZZ, spring 2025 will be one of the driest since weather records began in 1881, which further exacerbates the situation.
Consequences for agriculture
The drought damage also affects agriculture. The Saxony-Anhalt Farmers' Association is already reporting the first losses in the amount of diesel required for irrigation. This could have a negative impact on the grain harvest, even if the forecasts for a stable harvest at around 40 million tons sound positive. The varying yields due to the different water storage in the soil could still lead to difficulties.
The situation remains tense because similar measures are being prepared in other districts such as the Stendal district. However, in some regions such as Anhalt-Bitterfeld and the Börde there are currently no restrictions.
The risk of forest fires has also increased significantly due to the dry weather. In the Harz Mountains, steam locomotives from danger level 4 must be replaced by diesel locomotives. In addition, the fine for smokers was increased to 250 euros during higher risk of forest fires in order to set an example and raise awareness among the population.
In these challenging times, it is important that citizens adhere to the new regulations in order to work together to protect water resources and preserve nature.