Water shortage in the Osl district: Strict removal bans apply now!

Water shortage in the Osl district: Strict removal bans apply now!

The current drought caused excitement, especially in Brandenburg. From June 20, 2025, the district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz imposed a ban on water withdrawal from the Black Elster and the Spree. This ban concerns the private use of pumps. A full ban on the Black Elster applies to all pumping devices, while a time -limited ban comes into force for the Spree between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. However, if you have the green thumb, you can still remove water with the watering can, and the removal of groundwater remains unaffected. The decision aims to protect the water levels and ecosystems, which seems more than useful given the very dry conditions in the region. Exceptions can be requested from the lower water authority, whereby the bans apply to revocation.

The district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz is not alone. Similar measures were also taken on June 16, 2025 in the districts of Spree-Neiße and Dahme-Spreewald, while Cottbus is planning a corresponding ban in the coming week. These developments show that drought affected large parts of South Brandenburg. In particular, the low water levels in rivers such as the Spree and the Black Elster represent a major challenge that cannot be ignored. According to the hydrologist Ingolf Arnold, an annual deficit has existed since 2018. In fact, only a quarter of the usual amount of precipitation fell, which also tightened the situation.

affected areas and other measures

The affected counties are not only the ones mentioned, but are now seven circles in Brandenburg, in which the water withdrawal from rivers and lakes is restricted. These include the districts of Barnim and Uckermark, which issued a ban around the clock on Friday. In the Uckermark, this ban even applies to farms and nurseries between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The situation is so serious that the supplies in the water stores in Lusatia have dropped greatly; Around 40 million cubic meters of water are currently still available. This amount of water is expected to only be enough for 40 to 50 days if the dryness continues.

Thanks to the support from supply lines from Saxon dams, the Spree is still a bit supported, but this is not a long -term solution. In the Uckermark and the Havelland, special pouring bans are already in force that prohibit the water withdrawal from all water. So you can see that water withdrawal bans could become normal in the future.

A look into the future

The worries about the water supply make it clear that there is a need for action. Suggestions to improve the water balance include the better storage of rainwater and the implementation of concepts such as the sponge city. These approaches could help to make the water supply in Brandenburg more stable and better prepare in times of dryness. Until then, the citizens concerned have no choice but to use the existing resources sparingly and to observe the developments carefully.