Water withdrawal ban in Saxony: Drought forces us to be considerate!

Water withdrawal ban in Saxony: Drought forces us to be considerate!

The ongoing drought has serious consequences in Saxony, which now also affect water extraction from surface water bodies. From now on, a strict ban on water abstraction from rivers, streams and lakes applies in the Meißen district, which will remain in force until October 31, 2025. This ban, which was introduced with a new general decree, prohibits the use of pumps or hoses to withdraw water. Violations are punished with severe fines of up to 50,000 euros, as MDR reports. The district office appeals to all citizens to take responsibility and avoid interfering with nature.

But Meißen is not alone. A water withdrawal ban was also imposed in the Zwickau district due to falling water levels - for example in the Zwickauer Mulde. Here too, the ban applies until the end of October 2025. What is striking is that despite the lack of water, water is often pumped out for watering, which further aggravates the situation. In the Görlitz district, a ban has been imposed on several bodies of water since the end of June, which could be extended depending on water levels. The Lusatian Neisse, which currently has worryingly low water levels, is particularly affected.

Long-term challenges

A general water withdrawal ban has been in force in the Bautzen district since 2019, where only “hand-held vessels” are permitted. Here too, people have been warned about the challenges of the drought and are hoping for long-lasting rains to defuse the tense situation. In addition, similar measures are being discussed in other districts such as Leipzig and Freiberg, which shows that the problems are far-reaching: Sustainable solutions are necessary to secure the water supply in the future.

The causes of drought are diverse. High evaporation rates and a lack of precipitation, especially on hot summer days, lead to decreasing water levels. According to the Dresden city administration, the groundwater levels are currently within the normal fluctuation range, but are around 40 cm below the monthly average for the last 17 years. At the moment, no additional restrictions on groundwater use are necessary, but careful use of water is still advisable. Citizens are encouraged to use rainwater for watering and to do so preferably in the early morning or late evening hours to minimize evaporation losses, according to Dresden.

The measures make it clear that water scarcity must be taken seriously - this is the only way to ensure sustainable use of this precious commodity.