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Water emergency: Ban on abstraction in Jerichower Land from today!
Water withdrawal ban in Jerichower Land from June 25th, 2025 due to acute water shortages. Water use rules valid until September.
Water emergency: Ban on abstraction in Jerichower Land from today!
Water shortages are causing problems for many regions, and now the Jerichower Land is also pulling the emergency brake: As of today, a water withdrawal ban applies here! The ban not only affects extraction from rivers and lakes, but also the use of drinking water to water plants. Every day between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., citizens are not allowed to take water from surface water bodies, which is a consequence of the persistently dry weather conditions. This regulation was recently announced by the district administration in the city of Burg, as reported by MDR.
But the Jerichower Land is not alone with its worries. Similar measures have also been in force since Monday in other districts, such as the Harz district and the Altmark district of Salzwedel. General water withdrawal is therefore restricted in several regions. The hydrometeorological situation in particular appears to be tense: there was no significant improvement in the water situation in sight in the spring, which resulted in alarmingly low water levels in bodies of water and in groundwater. This also has significant negative effects on the aquatic ecology, as Meetingpoint JL explains.
Important exceptions and further regulations
The general order extends until September 30, 2025 or until revoked. It should be particularly emphasized that horticultural businesses that work with drip and trickle irrigation are exempt from this regulation. You are allowed to bring water directly to the top soil zone. Nevertheless, the authorities ask the population to use water sparingly and responsibly. Watering between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. should be reduced to an absolute minimum.
This new situation represents a further step in a larger context. The challenges facing Europe's waters are diverse, both in terms of the quantity and quality of the water available. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), only 37 percent of surface waters in the EU met the criteria for “good” ecological status in 2021. The main causes of this deterioration are industrial and agricultural chemicals entering water bodies through rain and surface runoff, according to a contribution from the European Parliament.
The current situation in Jerichower Land makes it clear that we have to concentrate on our own water supply. The more people use water sparingly, the better we can meet future challenges. The district administration therefore appeals to all citizens to actively contribute to protecting our water resources and to deal with the new regulations with understanding.