Water removal in the district of Central Saxony for three months prohibited!

Water removal in the district of Central Saxony for three months prohibited!

The water supply in Germany faces a serious challenge, which is still exacerbated by the continuing drought. On July 14th, a new general order in the Middle Saxony district, which prohibits the water withdrawal from bangs and rivers for three months. This is a direct reaction to the alarming low water levels in the waters, which currently lead only small amounts of water. According to sächsische.de no short-term relief from precipitation can be expected.

This decision is not isolated. The German Weather Service (DWD) has observed this situation for months. From February to April 2025, the weather in Germany was as dry as it has not been in over 90 years. A terrifying example is March 2025, in which only 21% of the ordinary precipitation was measured. Also in May there were only about 48 l/m², which corresponds to just 68% of the average amount that we would expect in normal years. All the more important are the measures that are taken to protect our water resources [Federal Environment Agency] (https://www.umweltbundamt.de/themen/wasser/extremereißnisseklimawandel/trocktheit-in-Deutschland-frechafe.

a nationwide problem

The problem of water withdrawal does not only affect mid -axes, but has now spread over several cities and regions of Germany. Similar restrictions were also imposed in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Here the water withdrawal from streams, lakes and fountains in several counties and cities is undesirable. In Münster and adjacent circles, a ban on water withdrawal from the Ems [Tagesspiegel] (https://www.tachspiegel.de/sgesellschaft/panorama/hitzewelle-und-trockenheit-Mehr-Mehr-Rehn-in-de-wasserent-wasser-wasser-wasser-wasser-wasser-wasser-wasser-wasser-wasser.

The low levels not only endanger the flora and fauna in and around the water, but could also have long-term negative effects on agriculture, water quality and biodiversity. The German adaptation strategy to climate change tries to counteract this development by promoting adapted land management and water retention.

The call for responsibility

The measures in Central Saxony are part of a comprehensive call to the population to deal with water responsibly. Although the skimming of water with hand vessels is still allowed, this should only be done within a limited frame. It is advisable to protect nature and its resources. The drought monitor also shows as a worrying sign that more and more regions in Germany are suffering from drought.