Water withdrawal in the Heilbronn district is now severely restricted!

Water withdrawal in the Heilbronn district is now severely restricted!

On July 6, 2025, the drought became particularly noticeable in the Heilbronn district. In view of persistently low water levels in rivers, streams and lakes, the Heilbronn district office has issued a general order that came into force on July 3, 2025. This measure is intended to ensure the protection of surface waters as the low water situation has continued to worsen. In order to relieve the pressure on the region's water balance, the withdrawal of water from these waters is prohibited until at least September 30, 2025. This not only affects private individuals, but also agricultural businesses, which continue to rely on water under certain conditions.

In addition to the complete ban on water abstraction from surface waters, scooping with hand-held vessels such as watering cans or buckets remains permitted. Farms have had their use of their approved daily amount reduced to just 50% - this dose can only be used between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. the following day, with the exception of drip irrigation. All further approved water withdrawals are no longer permitted with immediate effect. If the drought continues, an extension of these restrictions may be necessary. This information comes from echo24.de, who are following the situation in detail.

Water shortages across the board

The German Weather Service (DWD) has provided interesting statistics on the current situation. From the beginning of February to mid-April 2025, Germany experienced the driest phase since 1931, which highlights the effects of climate change. March received just 21% of usual rainfall, making it the sixth driest March since 1881. The other spring months also did not bring anything positive in terms of precipitation. The [Umweltbundesamt](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/wasser/extremprojekteklimawandel/trockenheit-in-deutschland-fragen- Answeren) states that water withdrawals have been reduced in recent decades, making local bottlenecks clearly visible.

In Germany, 70% of drinking water comes from groundwater and spring water, which is fed primarily by precipitation. But the prolonged drought is causing groundwater levels to fall and further restricting the availability of water. Agriculture is particularly suffering from the effects, which sometimes leads to yield losses. In addition, measures for water retention and use in agriculture and water management are essential.

Together against the drought

Citizens in Heilbronn are encouraged to actively save water and adopt environmentally friendly practices. Careful use of drinking water is required, while planting and caring for urban trees can also help to improve the water balance. These collective efforts are important to combat drought not only in the short term, but also in the long term. The challenges posed by the current drought are relevant for everyone affected and require responsible use of a valuable resource.

For further information on the current situation and the complete general order, the [Heilbronn District] website is available (https://www.landkreis-heilbronn.de/wasserentnahme-im-landkreis-ab-donnerstag-3-juli-eingeschraenkt.128382.htm).