Facing the possibility of regional water shortages, the German Association of Cities (Deutscher Städtetag) has called for a more conscious approach to using the precious resource."In the past, many people in Germany regarded water as an unlimited resource. That is no longer the case," said Managing Director Christian Schuchardt in comments to newspapers of the Funke Media Group.
The hot summers of recent years have shown that seasonal and regional water shortages can also occur in Germany, Schuchardt said. "This year, too, the situation is once again particularly severe, temperatures in June reached record levels."
At the same time, the head of the German Association of Cities assured that Germany's water supply remains secure overall. However, he said, groundwater as well as water from rivers, streams and lakes must be used far more consciously.
Schuchardt called on the federal government and the states to work together to establish extraction fees for groundwater and surface water that are as uniform as possible. "This is expressly not about charges for private households, but above all about commercial water extraction," he said. In doing so, he added, an "incentive to save water" must also be created.
In addition, Schuchardt said, revenue from these fees could increasingly be used for measures to protect water resources and adapt to climate change.
The German County Association (Deutscher Landkreistag) defended municipal measures to restrict public and private water consumption. "Periods of heat and drought are increasing in many regions," said Achim Brötel, President of the County Association, in comments to the Funke newspapers. "In such situations, private comfort use, such as filling swimming pools, must also be critically questioned."
Recommendations and guidance from water suppliers should absolutely be followed, Brötel said. In the past, individual municipalities have already had to limit water extraction in terms of timing or volume. "No county or municipality wants to have to issue such orders, of course. That's why, for now, we are relying on people's understanding and sense of responsibility."
André Berghegger, Managing Director of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund, DStGB), also called for responsible use of drinking water in comments to the Funke newspapers. This applies, for example, to watering lawns or filling private pools. "Only this way can the imposition of temporary usage restrictions be prevented as a last resort."
Berghegger welcomed the new nationwide low-water information system, Niwis, which Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) presented on Wednesday. "The data made available can be used by local authorities as a basis for decision-making, in order to prevent acute water shortages as proactively as possible."
Niwis is a data platform providing information on water levels, discharge rates, groundwater levels and precipitation, among other things. According to the Federal Environment Ministry, the system is intended to provide, for the first time, a nationwide, standardized overview of the current low-water situation.
This allows authorities, municipalities, businesses and interested members of the public to stay informed and better assess how severe low-water conditions are in their region, the ministry said. It described the system as an important basis for precautionary measures and adaptation strategies.
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