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Water withdrawal prohibited in Chemnitz: Nature suffers from drought!
In Chemnitz, water abstraction from surface waters is prohibited until October 2025. The regulation protects threatened ecosystems.
Water withdrawal prohibited in Chemnitz: Nature suffers from drought!
In the Chemnitz region, a strict ban on the withdrawal of water from above-ground bodies of water has been in force since July 18, 2023. This not only applies to pumps and hoses, but also the use of hand vessels. The city administration has introduced this regulation in order to regulate the own needs of owners, residents and for public use. As the city of Chemnitz chemnitz.de reports, the ban applies until October 31, 2025. The current water levels in Chemnitz's waters are alarming: they are far below the long-term average and the ecologically necessary minimum flow.
A few drops of rain here and there cannot defuse the situation. The changing precipitation has been proven to have little influence on the wet conditions of the water bodies, while high temperatures only increase evaporation. Small water withdrawals have already led to a further deterioration of the water balance. This not only leads to a decrease in water levels, but also to a decrease in the oxygen content in the water - a circumstance that seriously endangers the animal and plant life in the water. The dangers are not small: algae growth is increasing, and fish and microorganisms suffer from these conditions, as the environmental agency states.
Warnings about unregulated water withdrawals
Similar measures were recently taken in the North Saxony district, where a general order for water withdrawal was issued on July 2, 2023. Here too, the ongoing drought is leading to falling groundwater levels and lower surface water levels. The district office appeals to owners and residents to stop drawing water immediately. Uncontrolled water withdrawals are not only problematic, they also endanger the self-cleaning processes of water bodies. Holders of water permits must also ensure that they comply with the provisions of their notices, which regularly stipulate restrictions for low water situations, as landkreis-nordsachsen.de informs.
Observations from Dr. Eckhard Rexroth, the district's first alderman, show that critical situations can be observed especially with smaller tributaries. In this context, the need for economical water use, especially when watering gardens, becomes even more urgent. Anyone who violates the regulations must expect severe fines of up to 50,000 euros.
Water scarcity background
The water shortage in Germany has many causes that go far beyond the current drought. According to the Federal Environment Agency, climate change is a decisive factor. It leads to a lower water supply and also brings with it water quality problems such as nitrate pollution. The pressure on water resources is further increased by agriculture and high water demands in urban regions.
A research project called WADKlim presents solutions for water management that were developed as part of the German climate change adaptation strategy. It is recommended to pursue measures such as improved water retention and greater efficiency in water use. These proposals aim to minimize conflicts over water use in the future and promote sustainability.
The situation clearly shows that water availability in many regions of Germany, including Saxony, could decline in the future. Political decision-makers and stakeholders are called upon to create new legal and institutional frameworks for fair and sustainable water use - because this is the only way to ensure water supplies for all users in the long term.