New water law in MV: Drinking water prices are rising!

New water law in MV: Drinking water prices are rising!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there are significant changes in the way water resources are used, which has become particularly necessary due to climate change. On June 24, 2025, the cabinet passed the new State Water and Coastal Protection Act. Agriculture and Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) emphatically presented the key points of the law in Schwerin Castle. The law is scheduled to come into force by the end of the year and will be debated before the state parliament's summer break. The needs of climate change and rising water prices were decisive for the reform, which is also intended to regulate water use in the agricultural sector.

The new regulations stipulate that water is viewed as a valuable resource that must be both protected and used sparingly. A family of four will soon have to prepare for rising drinking water prices - around 15 euros more per year will be due. In addition, the price per liter of drinking water increases by almost one cent. Farmers in particular are feeling the impact, as they will have to pay fees for water extraction in the future: 2 cents per cubic meter from surface water - such as streams and lakes - and 6 cents per cubic meter from groundwater.

Resource protection and investments

The innovations also include incentives for water-saving irrigation methods to support farmers. In addition, a five meter wide protective strip will be established around arable land where fertilization is not permitted. With these measures, the state government hopes to generate around 11 million euros annually. This income should flow into various protection projects, such as groundwater protection and the renewal of measuring points.

But the challenges are significant: rising sea levels and increasingly frequent storms also require the construction of new coastal defense systems. Agriculture is also suffering from drought, which is leading many farmers to pump out groundwater. The country is unlikely to meet the EU Water Framework Directive's target of good status for all water bodies by 2027. This Directive provides the legal framework for the sustainable use of all water resources and ensures that water is protected as a generally accessible but limited resource. Politically, the implementation of this directive is seen as an important part of environmental protection and needs to be accelerated urgently to counteract the effects of climate change that are endangering water resources.

Importance for the region

Water is not only essential for drinking water supplies, but also crucial for agriculture, industry and local ecosystems. The EU has adopted various directives to ensure and comprehensively protect water quality. Among other things, the Nitrates Directive and the Bathing Water Directive ensure that water resources are important not only for people, but also for flora and fauna. In recent years, worrying weather events such as floods and droughts have highlighted the urgency of reforms.

In this context, it becomes clear how important it is to include all stakeholders in the discussion about water use. This challenge for society as a whole, in which agriculture, industry and the population take part, is crucial in order to ensure sustainable and high-quality water management in the future.