Weimar in the water emergency: Strict ban on withdrawals until October!

Weimar in the water emergency: Strict ban on withdrawals until October!

The ongoing drought in Thuringia is more and more difficult for people and nature. The situation in Weimar is particularly bad. Here the water levels in waters, especially the ILM, drop dramatically. The precipitation of the past few months remains far behind the long -term average, which still exacerbates the situation. According to Weimarer Land and Hildburghausen; Even the Saale-Orla district has called on to avoid water withdrawals since last week. Only the scooping of water with handwashers for cattle drinks remains allowed. N-tv were: there is a risk of irreversible damage to the above -ground waters, and the preservation of the basic ecological functions must be ensured.

The effects of the drought

The situation in Thuringia reflects a nationwide trend. The German Weather Service has found that from the beginning of February to mid -April 2025, Germany has experienced the driestest period since 1931. It is particularly revealing that March 2025 with only 21% of precipitation compared to the average of 1991-2020 was the sixth dry March since 1881. According to the information of the Environmental Federal Agency suffer from drought stress, which also affects the available water resources.

In many regions, the groundwater levels are extremely low. The water values are critical at every third measuring point in Thuringia. The Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation (TLUBN) makes it clear that the drought not only is a challenge for nature, but also for agriculture. Harvest failures are possible, which could further exacerbate the already tense situation in agriculture.

What's next?

A change in the weather situation is still not in sight. As the meteorologists predict, no significant precipitation can be expected in the coming weeks. This reveals the question of whether maintaining the water balance in Thuringia can be ensured in the long run. The city of Weimar therefore asks the citizens to understand the measures taken and point out that they are essential to maintain the ecological state of the waters and possibly avoid harmful effects on the aquatic flora and fauna.