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Chemnitz is pulling the ripcord: water withdrawal is now prohibited!
From July 18, 2023, Chemnitz will ban the withdrawal of water from bodies of water until October 2025 due to persistent drought and low water levels.
Chemnitz is pulling the ripcord: water withdrawal is now prohibited!
From July 18, 2023, things will get serious in Chemnitz: The city has issued a comprehensive ban on taking water from above-ground bodies of water. Streams and rivers are affected, including the Chemnitz, Kappelbach and Pleißenbach. The reason for this drastic decision? A permanently low water level, which currently only measures 27 centimeters on Müllerstrasse. This ban is valid until October 31, 2025 and comes into force upon publication in the Official Journal, as radiochemnitz.de reported.
The ban affects everyone who wants to withdraw water from these bodies of water - from garden owners to farmers. It doesn't matter whether you do this out of necessity or habit. The water levels in almost all of the city's bodies of water have now fallen below the ecologically necessary minimum flow. Too little precipitation and high temperatures lead to increased evaporation, which is why even local thunderstorms do not provide any significant relief.
Critical situation and possible consequences
The city is thus imposing a regulation that also endangers the self-cleaning ability of the waters. Small water withdrawals can lead to falling oxygen levels, which has dramatic effects on microorganisms and fish. Violations of this regulation could also be punished with fines of up to 50,000 euros, it emphasizes tag24.de.
The situation is not only tense in Chemnitz. Water withdrawal bans can also be observed in other regions of Germany. In Brandenburg, several districts, including Cottbus, have taken similar measures. Saxony-Anhalt and North Rhine-Westphalia are also taking precautionary measures, while Baden-Württemberg is reacting with similar bans. These developments are a direct result of ongoing droughts and the worsening climate crisis, which are leading to more frequent and severe droughts, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
A call for more responsibility
It is obvious that all citizens in Chemnitz and beyond are required to use water responsibly. The Helmholtz Center's drought monitor shows that drought is increasing in eastern Germany. A lack of rain and rising temperatures further exacerbate the problem. Especially in times like these, it is more important than ever that everyone uses our water resources consciously.
tagesspiegel.de points out that water demand in particular could continue to increase due to new industries, such as data centers.
Questions about this regulation can be answered by the Lower Water Authority in the Environment Agency on 0371 488-3651 or by email at Umweltamt.wasser@stadt-chemnitz.de. It remains to be hoped that these measures will not only represent a temporary solution, but will also contribute to a positive development of water levels in the region in the long term.