Water extraction in the Ludwigsburg district: Ban due to drought!

Water extraction in the Ludwigsburg district: Ban due to drought!

In view of the ongoing drought, the Ludwigsburg district office today issued a ban on taking water from surface water bodies such as streams, rivers and lakes. This decision, announced on Friday, represents a drastic measure to protect the region's aquatic ecology and is part of efforts to combat the devastating effects of water shortages currently plaguing Baden-Württemberg. Existing permits that are temporarily revoked are also affected.

District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier urgently appealed to citizens to respect the new ban. Exceptions only apply to hydroelectric power plants and heat pumps that return water after use. In addition, the Neckar, the Grünelbach from the Eglosheim sewage treatment plant and the Mühlbach reservoir are excluded from the regulations. There are special regulations for Heiligenbergsee and Hohenhaslacher See.

Extreme weather conditions are extending drought

These measures are particularly urgent as Baden-Württemberg has been confronted with extreme temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks. This heat wave has further exacerbated the current water shortage situation. Experts report that the groundwater situation is currently more tense than in the dry years of 2003 and 2018 and is comparable to the critical situation in 2020. According to a current study by BUND, more than 20 percent of the newly formed groundwater comes from abstraction.

Despite this challenge, the drinking water supply in Baden-Württemberg is currently not classified as being at risk. However, the state government expects groundwater recharge to be reduced by up to 20 percent by 2050 and even by up to 50 percent by 2100. The LUBW records a low groundwater level at around every fourth measuring point, which underlines the need to handle water carefully.

Fines and recommendations for water conservation

In order to ensure compliance with the water abstraction ban, violations may result in fines. These can be up to 100,000 euros in some districts, such as Biberach, and up to 10,000 euros in Lake Constance and Ravensburg. In the districts of Biberach, Heilbronn, Ravensburg, Alb-Donau-Kreis and Bodenseekreis, a water withdrawal ban has been in effect for a long time and is limited until July 15th. In Emmendingen there is even a permanent ban on water abstraction.

The population is also encouraged to actively contribute to saving water. Tips include taking short showers, avoiding filling the pool, and fixing leaky faucets. Watering plants is currently permitted in Baden-Württemberg, but you should still use local plants that require little water in order to conserve the resource.

In summary, the current situation shows that both authorities and citizens are required to deal with the water shortage caused by the extreme heat and persistent drought. The general order of the Ludwigsburg District Office can be viewed on the office's website and should be urgently observed in order to ensure sustainable water use.

You can find more information about the situation in Baden-Württemberg at daily news and up Tixio.