Water withdrawal from the Ruhr is prohibited: animal and environmental protection in focus!

Water withdrawal from the Ruhr is prohibited: animal and environmental protection in focus!

Since July 15, 2025, there has been a strict ban on drawing water from the Ruhr in the Bochum area. The Arnsberg district government decided this in order to protect the endangered flora and fauna in the region. Even if the rain of the last few days has had a positive effect on the water levels, they are still too low. This shows how serious the situation is and what challenges climate change poses. According to information from Radio Bochum There is a risk of fines if the ban is ignored.

The foundation for this measure lies in the increasingly earlier occurrence of low water levels in recent years. These not only represent a problem for the ecology of the Ruhr, but are also a warning signal for the water supply. Loud Diercke Water consumption in the Ruhr area is seven times higher than the national average. In a region with 4.6 million people who rely on drinking and industrial water, careful attention must be paid to water resources.

Water management in the region

Historically, the Ruhr area has often had to contend with water crises in the past. The high level of water abstraction, particularly by mines and heavy industry, led to acute problems at the end of the 19th century. Measures such as the construction of the Eschbach dam in 1889 and the merger of the waterworks on the Ruhr to build dams were necessary. The Ruhr Association now monitors eight dams, which not only provide drinking water, but also help keep the Ruhr clean.

The wastewater of around 2.2 million people is cleaned in around 69 sewage treatment plants, while around 63 million kilowatt hours are generated annually in the around 15 hydroelectric power plants that the Ruhr Association operates. These developments not only show how important water management is for the region, but also the challenges that are increasing due to climate change. Extreme precipitation and periods of drought require long-term planning and sustainable solutions, as the Greentech.Ruhr initiative highlights. This is committed to sustainable water management in the Ruhr area and looks for innovative solutions.

Ecological responsibility

Another aspect that plays a role in water management is the renaturation of polluted waters. The Emscher has made great progress in this context and is now considered one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe. This shows that the special focus on the natural regeneration of our landscapes is not only ecologically necessary, but also feasible.

The challenges that water management in the Ruhr area brings with it should not be underestimated. Despite the strict restrictions on water withdrawal, the region remains motivated to develop viable concepts for the future. Water supply is and remains a key concern, and if handled wisely, community support will be strengthened. It remains to be seen how the summer of 2025 will further influence this balancing act. But one thing is certain: a good hand is needed here to sustainably secure water resources.