Water extraction in the Görlitz district: Ban due to extreme drought!

Water extraction in the Görlitz district: Ban due to extreme drought!

Drought is a pressing issue in Saxony. The Görlitz district office has now issued a ban on taking water from various surface water bodies, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. This measure was taken in response to the ongoing drought and alarmingly low water levels in the waterways. The general order comes into force when water levels fall below a certain level, and this value has already been reached in several bodies of water in the region, which is why the ban already applies there. Information on current water levels can be found on the Saxony State Flood Center website, while a list of limit water levels is available from the district.

This ban not only serves to protect water as a basis for life, but also public safety and order as well as the well-being of nature and the general public, as saechsische.de reports. Such restrictions cannot only be observed in Görlitz; Numerous other districts and cities have also issued similar general orders due to the ongoing critical drought.

Water extraction details

The situation is serious: Garden owners are only allowed to water their green areas with tap water during the day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. However, there is no general ban on the use of drinking water. It is important to note that when drawing water from private wells or natural sources, temporary restrictions or even complete bans may be imposed, depending on the respective regulations. In addition, decorative fountains and fountains must follow the same rules. Their operation is only permitted if drinking water is used to avoid water loss through evaporation, as regionalheute.de notes.

The current drought also has nationwide dimensions. The German Weather Service (DWD) reports that Germany experienced the driest period since 1931 from February to April 2025. March in particular was the sixth driest March since 1881, with only 21% of the precipitation compared to the normal period. In addition, only around 68% of the usual amount of precipitation fell in May, which further aggravated the situation. Climate change contributes significantly to the changed distribution of precipitation and promotes dryness in many regions, as [umweltbundesamt.de](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/wasser/extremprojekteklimawandel/trockenheit-in-deutschland-fragen- Answeren) reports.

Impact on the region

The effects of drought are particularly noticeable in agriculture. Soils are often severely affected by drought, which leads to yield losses and can affect nutrient supply. In addition, groundwater recharge is at great risk due to the lack of precipitation. Citizens are already struggling with local water shortages, which are accentuated by the decline in public water supplies.

Adequate adaptation strategies in water management as well as increased awareness of water conservation are necessary in order to master the situation. For example, the federal government has decided on a national water strategy to promote responsible use of water resources in the long term. Citizens are also called upon to contribute to water availability through environmentally friendly practices so that we can better deal with such extreme situations in the future.