Water shortage in Germany: first bans and urgent warnings!

Water shortage in Germany: first bans and urgent warnings!

Jerichower Land, Deutschland - In Germany, the water shortage becomes a serious challenge. The German Association of Cities and Municipalities raises the alarm and indicates that longer dry phases, due to climate change, could significantly endanger the water supply of the municipalities. The municipalities must therefore adapt to possible restrictions and in critical situations, leisure activities, such as irrigation of golf courses and gardens, should be prohibited, according to managing director André Berghegger from the City and Municipal Association.

like t-online is no longer reported as a water kingdom. To ensure drinking water supply and food production, precautions are necessary - even if they are not always popular. The ideal management stipulates that prohibitions are used as a last remedy if voluntary measures are not sufficient.

regional measures and current procedures

Already in several counties of Saxony-Anhalt, water withdrawals from rivers, lakes and fountains have been restricted or completely prohibited. In Dessau-Roßlau, the water withdrawal will be stopped between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. with the exception of the creation with the watering can. In the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, too, a ban has been banned by the end of September. Another example is the Jerichower Land, where the use of ground and drinking water has been prohibited for irrigation since June 26. In addition, the water withdrawal is banned in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz from June 28 using pumps, and the irrigation of gardens and sports facilities between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. is no longer permitted.

according to Federal Environment Agency have led the climate element to a significantly reduced water resources. Germany has lost as much water in the past 20 years as the volume of Lake Constance. Freshwater decreased every year. Due to persistent drought between 2018 and 2021, the country experienced a dramatic decline in groundwater. This not only affects the drinking water supply, which is covered with over 70% of groundwater, but also on the entire water balance of the region.

appreciation of the challenges

The increasing water requirement of energy -intensive industry, agriculture and everyday life for citizens reinforce the problem. Energy supply in particular devours most of the water withdrawals with over 44%, while agriculture claims more than 2%. With its national water strategy, the Federal Environment Ministry is pursuing the goal of ensuring reliable water supply by 2030. Instead of uncoordinated emergency measures, a detailed, sustainable water management, such as ZDF today reports.

In order to cope with the future water shortage, the Federal Environment Agency recommends the implementation of comprehensive adaptation measures and the promotion of water efficiency and reuse. For this purpose, strengthening the cooperation between different user groups is essential to ensure fair and fair access rights for everyone. The challenge remains that water shortages is a complex problem that is difficult to predict through unpredictable climatic conditions and human activities.