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Water crisis in Cottbus: Restrictions on water withdrawals from now on!
Cottbus and surrounding districts are restricting water withdrawals due to the threat of water shortages. Measures apply until further notice.
Water crisis in Cottbus: Restrictions on water withdrawals from now on!
The water shortage in Brandenburg has now reached new dimensions: The districts of Dahme-Spreewald and Spree-Neiße have taken measures to regulate water withdrawal from surface waters. Loud Daily Mirror There are now restrictions on the withdrawal of water from the Spree system and the upper reaches of the Dahme. This general order is valid until revoked and applies daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The background to this drastic measure is the foreseeable water shortage, which will be exacerbated by the current weather situation. The rivers are already experiencing very low flows, which poses a serious challenge to the ecosystems. These steps are necessary to stop the decline in water flow and to secure the ecological functions of water bodies.
Impact on the region
It's not just the districts that are affected. The city of Cottbus is also planning to limit the time it takes to withdraw water from above-ground bodies of water from next week. These measures aim to protect water reserves due to the ongoing drought and rain deficits. The cities of Spremberg, Drebkau and Burg are also subject to this new order from the Spree-Neiße district, like Honnef today reported.
In a similar move, the Rhein-Sieg district has restricted water withdrawal from surface waters from June 1, 2023 until October 31. Despite good mean water levels after the heavy rainfall, there were already low water levels in spring, especially in smaller bodies of water. This leads to increased controls on unauthorized water withdrawals, and violations can be punished with fines.
Long-term strategies against water scarcity
Climate change plays a central role in these developments. Increasing dry spells and changing rainfall patterns are responsible for declining groundwater levels. The National Water Strategy, launched in 2023, aims to address these challenges and ensure equitable distribution of water resources.
The strategy is committed to securing the long-term water supply and is concerned with reducing usage conflicts between agriculture, industry and drinking water supplies. The development of guidelines for dealing with water shortages calls for a proactive approach to water withdrawals in order to prevent acute shortages.
The coming weeks will show how well the measures against the water crisis are working and whether the region is able to successfully master the ecological challenges. Nature demands our attention - there is something there, and the projects must go hand in hand with the population.