Water alarm in Wolfenbüttel: Drought forces drastic measures!

Water alarm in Wolfenbüttel: Drought forces drastic measures!

The ongoing drought is currently causing a water alarm in the Wolfenbüttel district. From now on, citizens are no longer allowed to withdraw water from surface waters until September 30th. This ban applies even if there is a valid water permit. The district has taken the measures to protect both the groundwater and the water bodies, as measurements by the State Hydrological Service show that the groundwater levels were unable to recover despite the previous rainfall. High temperatures and many hours of sunshine also lead to rapid evaporation and cause water levels in rivers and streams to drop dramatically, as news38.de reports.

The situation is anything but isolated. There are already similar restrictions in the Hanover region. There is a ban on watering green areas here as soon as temperatures reach 27 degrees Celsius or more, from June 1st to September 30th. Anyone who does not adhere to these rules must expect severe penalties of up to 50,000 euros if they are repeated violations. The drought has increased significantly throughout Germany in recent months; The German Weather Service (DWD) reports that from February to April 2025 we experienced the driest period since 1931, and March 2025 was already the sixth driest since 1881, as [umweltbundesamt.de](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/wasser/extremprojekteklimawandel/trockenheit-in-deutschland-fragen- Answeren) states.

The effects of drought

The effects of drought are far-reaching. In May 2025, the DWD recorded only around 48 l/m² of precipitation in Germany, which corresponds to 68% of the usual amount for the reference period 1961-1990. The northern and northeastern federal states are particularly affected, where rainfall in March was only 9 l/m². These extreme weather conditions not only lead to water shortages but also significantly impact agriculture. The challenges include, among other things, yield losses and nutrient surpluses caused by persistent drought, according to bund.net.

In Germany, around 70% of drinking water is obtained from groundwater and spring water. However, during long dry periods, groundwater levels decrease and water availability is also affected in different regions. According to the drought monitor, the situation at the end of May 2025 is described as extreme to exceptional in the topsoil, especially in the northwest and north of Germany. Water stress is currently at 10.1%, although the 20% threshold was last exceeded in 2004. Despite these alarming figures, water withdrawals have decreased in recent decades, partly due to knowledge strategies in industry and savings in the area of ​​water supply.

Challenges with heavy rain and water quality

At the same time, in urban areas, drainage problems become more visible during heavy rainfall. High amounts of rainfall often cannot be absorbed by the ground, leading to flash floods, rising water levels and flooding. The sealing of areas through development and asphalting makes it even more difficult for rainwater to be absorbed into the ground. As a result, rainwater is often drained together with wastewater into mixed sewer systems, which are often not designed to handle large quantities of water. This can lead to significant strain on ecosystems and deteriorate water quality, possibly even resulting in bathing bans. The main reasons for this are nutrients and heat, which promote the deterioration of water quality.

Adaptation to increasingly dry conditions is now urgently addressed at the federal and local levels. Citizens are encouraged to use water sparingly and to use efficient methods when watering their gardens. A good hand in designing green spaces in cities could also help: These have the potential to absorb heavy rain and thus at least partially alleviate the water problem. Apart from that, better planting could counteract urban heat islands and cool inner cities. The challenges are great, but there are also approaches that inspire hope.