Heat and drought: Göttingen plans water withdrawal bans!

Heat and drought: Göttingen plans water withdrawal bans!

In the coming days, the residents of Göttingen and the surrounding area should keep an eye on the weather forecasts. The temperatures are expected to rise above 20 degrees, and a cooling from rain is not in sight, such as the Göttinger Tageblatt reported. These inconsistent conditions also lead to a high risk of forest fire in many regions of Germany, with large parts of the country affected by a drought.

Some municipalities have already reacted to the dry location and introduced bans for water withdrawal and irrigation measures. The Hanover region has pronounced a ban on irrigation during temperatures from 27 degrees Celsius. Similar measures are also conceivable in the city and district of Göttingen, but you currently see no acute need for action, but the Situation remains tense. Göttingen is classified as relatively stable in the Dürremonitor, while the risk of forest fires here is at level 3 of 5, in the Harz even partially at level 4.

water guidance and water supply

The district of Göttingen observes the water levels of the river in order to pronounce potential bans. The water guidance of the waters is currently still sufficient, but the levels are falling continuously. In view of the current situation, the city administration calls for the economical use of water, especially during the midday heat. The mayors of the municipalities emphasize the importance of a responsible handling of water.

In the communities, there are no acute problems regarding water supply, which remains stable. Information about careful handling of water is provided by various communities. A general order to restrict drinking water use in the Samtgemeinde Dransfeld is currently being prepared, but is not yet in force.

climatic influences and risk of forest fire

The risk of forest fires increases with progressive global warming, and the forecasts also show that there could be an increase in forest fires in the future. The causes are diverse: in addition to weather -related factors, human behavior and local vegetation also play a role. Between 1991 and 2017, the area of ​​forest fires in Germany decreased significantly, while in 2018 and 2019 there was an increase due to extreme drought. In particular, the northeastern federal states were not spared, as Show data from the Environmental Bundesamt

In Brandenburg and other continental regions, forest fires are considered significant risk factors. Active forest fire prevention and the necessary infrastructures are on the agenda, since the challenges in fire fighting are expected to increase. Digital sensors are increasingly replacing old fire guard towers and informing at potential forest fire.

This suggests that the responsible handling of water and forest walks will be of great importance in the coming weeks and months. The municipalities and the city administration do everything they can to react to the changed climatic conditions in good time and to clarify the population about the risks.