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Ban on water abstraction in Brandenburg: drought forces measures to be taken!
Due to ongoing drought, water withdrawal bans for rivers and lakes in the Spree-Neiße and Dahme-Spreewald now apply.
Ban on water abstraction in Brandenburg: drought forces measures to be taken!
The situation in southern Brandenburg is tense: the Spree-Neiße and Dahme-Spreewald districts have issued a water abstraction ban due to persistent drought. This ban came into force on Thursday and prohibits the withdrawal of water from rivers and lakes during the day. The measure particularly affects the catchment area of the Spree and the upper reaches of the Dahme (rbb24) and is aimed at numerous municipalities and cities in the region.
In the Spree-Neiße district these include Spremberg and Drebkau as well as the communities of Kolkwitz, Neuhausen/Spree and all places in the Peitz and Burg (Spreewald) districts. Several cities in the Dahme-Spreewald district such as Lübben and Luckau are also affected. The aim of this general decree is to counteract a further decline in water flow and to secure the water ecological functions (maz-online).
The background of water scarcity
The reason for the drastic measure is the severe water shortage caused by insufficient rainfall in recent winters. The natural water resources have not been able to regenerate sufficiently, which has led to very low flows in the rivers in the current weather situation (rbb24). The water authorities are already warning of a foreseeable worsening of the water shortage, as the weather forecasts do not indicate any imminent rain. The city of Cottbus is also planning to issue a similar ban next week and is calling on the population to use water more sparingly.
This development is worrying not only for nature, but also for agriculture. At the Müncheberg fruit growing research institute, horticultural scientist Antje Balasus is investigating which apple varieties are prepared for the challenges of climate change. The drought is affecting Brandenburg's apple farmers: without sufficient irrigation, the popular fruits can no longer be marketed (Deutschlandfunk Kultur).
The effects of drought
The extreme weather events observed so far - such as heat waves, cold snaps and now drought - are not only problematic for the apple harvest. The general water availability in the region is also at risk. Since 2018, Brandenburg has been suffering from an exceptional dry phase, which has also affected the drinking water supply. Therefore, from 2025, an upper limit of 105 liters of water per person per day will apply to new customers. This clearly shows how serious the situation already is (Deutschlandfunk Kultur).
Water consumption is increasingly becoming a hot topic in Brandenburg. As hydrogeologist Irina Engelhardt from the TU Berlin explains, groundwater recharge is only 82 mm per year. Even if there are no quick solutions in sight, technical approaches are being discussed to counteract the drought, such as absorbing heavy rainfall to improve groundwater supplies. The state plans to change the approval practice for commercial settlements in order to ensure drinking water safety (Deutschlandfunk Kultur).
The water withdrawal ban in southern Brandenburg is a clear indication that it is time to use our water resources responsibly. The nature and future of agriculture depend on us making the right decisions now.