Drought and low water: Brandenburg's rivers in acute danger!

Drought and low water: Brandenburg's rivers in acute danger!

In Brandenburg, the ongoing drought has reached dire proportions. The water levels in the Spree and the Black Elster have fallen to alarmingly low levels. The State Office for the Environment has determined that between February and May 2025, rainfall fell to its lowest level since 2003. Despite a wetter June, the situation has not yet improved. One of the worrying figures is that the discharge in the Spree at the Leibsch sub-level is 3.5 m³/s, well below the minimum value of 4.5 m³/s. The Black Elster is also showing worrying values: only 186 l/s are measured at the Kleinkoschen weir.

In order to counteract this critical situation, the Spremberg dam has increased its water output to 9.8 m³/s. The first step in the low-water concept was to reduce water withdrawals from the Spree for the ditch systems, such as the Hammergraben. Lake Senftenberg also plays a crucial role in this water crisis and supports the Black Elster with additional water, while its water level has fallen to a worrying 98.85 meters, as Nachrichten Aktuell reports.

Measures against drought

In order to counteract the ongoing drought in Brandenburg in the long term, the research project “SpreeWasser:N” is being brought into play. In collaboration with the Technical University of Berlin, measures are to be examined to better prepare the region for extreme weather events. The goal is to enrich groundwater by capturing excess water, for example from heavy rain, and feeding it into the ground. Small branches of the Spree could then be used as a water source. Infiltration wells that reach depths of up to 150 meters are a central part of this initiative, as rbb24 explains.

The region is one of the driest in Germany, with the groundwater level having fallen by up to three meters since the turn of the millennium. Only a third of the area examined between Berlin and the Spreewald is suitable for groundwater enrichment technology. Potential users include farmers and water suppliers who rely on the stored water. The possibility of storing treated wastewater is also being discussed - a method that Germany has hardly used to date.

Extreme weather conditions and their consequences

As the data from the Federal Environment Agency show, Germany is currently experiencing one of the driest periods since 1931 this year. The north and northeast in particular are suffering from severe water shortages, which not only affects agriculture, but also puts considerable pressure on water availability and ecosystems. The Drought Monitor for Germany detects extreme to exceptional drought in the topsoil, demonstrating the need to continue to develop measures to adapt to such climatic challenges.

The drought has reached citizens – from garden owners to farmers. It is urgent to use water carefully and to take practical tips for garden watering into account. Street trees need special attention to maintain urban climate conditions and stay healthy. The path to the future leads through technological developments, but also through a new awareness among the population when it comes to dealing with precious water resources. With a good hand and decisive measures, we can meet the challenges in Brandenburg.